Ranjitha Suicide: Woman's Suicide Tragedy Amid Husband's ₹1 Crore Debt from IPL Match Betting

In a tragic sequence of events, the allure of quick gains through online cricket betting led a man from Karnataka into an overwhelming debt of crores, ultimately resulting in the untimely demise of his wife. Darshan Babu, employed as an assistant engineer with the state minor irrigation department in Hosadurga, Chitradurga, reportedly incurred losses exceeding Rs 1 crore in online betting, leading to incessant harassment from creditors.

Exhausted by the alleged harassment from money lenders, Darshan Babu's 24-year-old wife, Ranjitha, took her own life on March 18. According to police reports, Ranjitha and Darshan Babu married in 2020, and by 2021, the wife became aware of her husband's gambling addiction.

"Based on the complaint from Ranjitha's father, Venkatesh, Ranjitha's suicide was a result of the harassment inflicted by those who lent money to Darshan," stated Chitradurga Superintendent of police, Dharmendra Kumar Meena.

"People would threaten the couple, approach their residence, and engage in altercations. This constant pressure exacerbated Ranjitha's stress levels, leading to her tragic decision. A case was registered based on her father's complaint," he added.

The police revealed that Ranjitha left behind a suicide note detailing the relentless harassment they faced from moneylenders.

After the complaint, the police registered a case against 13 suspects under IPC 306, about abetment to suicide. Presently, three individuals, identified as Shivu, Girish, and Venkatesha, have been arrested.

"During our investigation, we discovered that Darshan Babu had borrowed 84 lakh rupees from moneylenders between 2021 and 2023, particularly during the IPL season. We have initiated legal action against 13 individuals and have apprehended three suspects," stated Meena.

In November 2023, the Bengaluru Police Cyber Crime Unit dismantled an interstate cricket betting racket wherein the accused operated numerous mule accounts to perpetrate cyber fraud. Six individuals were apprehended in connection with the case, with five hailing from Kerala and one from Karnataka. Investigations revealed that the accused had opened 126 bank accounts under the names of unsuspecting individuals.