College student ends his life after losing 1 lakh in online betting

Hyderabad: A 20-year-old college student in Hyderabad died by suicide in the early hours of Thursday by consuming a herbicide after incurring losses in online betting. On the complaint of the victim's family, Kandukur police registered a case under Section 194 of the BNSS and initiated an investigation.According to police, the victim, Vaspuri Vikram, a second-year degree student at BJR Govt College in Narayanaguda, had taken about Rs 1 lakh cash from his home in Debbadaguda village under Kandukur police station limits and staked it on the betting app ‘Fun in Exchange'. According to police, he lost the entire amount within a short time and feared his parents' reaction.Around 7.30 pm on Dec 23, Vikram went to the family's agricultural fields and consumed a herbicide. When he failed to return, his elder brother, Srikanth, went in search and found him unconscious. Vikram was first rushed to a private hospital in the city and later referred to Gandhi Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment at 12.55 am on Dec 25."We have registered a case under Section 194 (suspicious death) of the BNSS. There was no suicide note. He was scared of family members finding out about the monetary loss, and due to severe emotional stress, he resorted to the extreme step. No foul play is suspected," Kandukur inspector K Seetharam said.Police appealed to parents and educational institutions to monitor the digital activities of youngsters and make them aware of the disastrous consequences of online betting. "These apps promise quick money but often end in devastating financial loss and psychological strain," the inspector said.