Paradip, Sept. 23: Unable to refund depositors’ money, a physically-challenged woman, who worked as an agent for a ponzy firm, committed suicide by hanging herself in her house, which falls under Kujang police station limits, on Monday.

Pramila Sutar, 28, was depressed since the money circulation company she worked for disappeared about a year ago. People were demanding immediate refund of their deposits, which made her feel vulnerable. Upset and distressed over it, she committed suicide, police said.

Her body was found hanging from a ceiling fan in the bedroom. An unnatural death case has been registered.

The matter is being thoroughly investigated, said police officials.

Pramila’s death is not a one-off incident. Last year, another agent of a bogus finance company, Minarani Samal, had committed suicide in Narasinghpur village in neighbouring Kendrapara district last year under similar circumstances.

Inspector of Kujang police station Chinmoy Rout said: “Investigation has revealed that the woman was working as an agent with Golden Land, a ponzy firm and had collected a huge sum of money from local residents. Many of them started to put pressure on her but she was in no state to refund their money. Prima facie evidence suggests that led her to commit suicide. Pramila was unmarried and physically challenged.”

Ponzi companies had duped many people in the recent past and cases had been registered at local police stations.

Later, these cases were transferred to the economic offence wing of the state crime branch.

Crores of rupees had been collected from investors, promising them handsome returns in quick time.

These companies had collected funds through local agents who won the trust of the people through their marketing skills, said Rout.