IPL Betting Losses: Karnataka Man’s Rs 1 Crore Loss Drives Wife to Suicide

Tragic Consequences of Online Betting: A Tale of Debt and Desperation

In a tragic sequence of events, the temptation of quick earnings through online cricket betting plunged a man from Karnataka into crippling debts amounting to crores, ultimately resulting in the premature death of his wife.

Darshan Babu, an assistant engineer with the state minor irrigation department in Hosadurga, Chitradurga, reportedly incurred losses exceeding Rs 1 crore in online betting, leading to relentless harassment from creditors towards his family.

Exhausted by the purported harassment from moneylenders, Darshan Babu’s 24-year-old wife, Ranjitha, tragically took her own life on March 18.

According to the police, Ranjitha and Darshan Babu tied the knot in 2020, and in 2021, Ranjitha discovered her husband’s addiction to betting.

According to Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Kumar Meena, Ranjitha’s father Venkatesh filed a complaint stating that Ranjitha took her own life due to harassment from individuals who had lent money to her husband, Darshan.

Meena explained, “While Darshan was borrowing money from these individuals, he was providing them with blank cheques as security.”

Meena further elaborated, “These people would threaten the couple, confront them near their home, and engage in altercations.

• This constant pressure and stress on Ranjitha ultimately led to her decision to end her life. A case has been registered based on her father’s complaint.”

Police revealed that Ranjitha had left behind a suicide note detailing the harassment inflicted upon the couple by the moneylenders.

Following the complaint, police initiated legal action against 13 suspects under IPC 306, which pertains to abetment to suicide. Subsequently, three individuals named Shivu, Girish, and Venkatesha were arrested.

“Through our investigation, we discovered that Darshan Balu had borrowed 84 lakh rupees from moneylenders. This substantial sum was acquired between 2021 and 2023, coinciding with the IPL season. We have filed charges against 13 individuals and apprehended three of them,” stated Meena.

In November 2023, the Bengaluru Police Cyber Crime Unit dismantled an interstate cricket betting syndicate that had established numerous mule accounts to perpetrate cyber fraud.

Online cricket betting in India

According to PTI reports, the IPL serves as a significant catalyst for betting in India. It is estimated that more than 140 million (14 crore) individuals engage in betting and gambling regularly across the country. This number escalates to 370 million (37 crore) during the IPL season.

In India, gambling is regulated by the Public Gambling Act of 1867, which prohibits all forms of betting except for specific skill-based games such as chess and bridge.

Moral of the Story:

The lure of quick riches through online betting can lead to devastating consequences, not only financially but also emotionally and socially.

It is essential to recognize the dangers of gambling addiction and seek help before it’s too late. Additionally, the importance of responsible borrowing and the impact of debt on one’s mental health cannot be overstated.