A police constable from Hyderabad tragically ended his life after facing financial stress caused by online betting addiction. The incident shocked the police department and raised concerns about the rising number of such cases. The constable, identified as D. Srikanth (42), lived in Mallikarjun Nagar, Uppal.
Srikanth had been absent from duty since October 23, prompting his station to issue a notice on Saturday. Later that day, he was found dead, having hanged himself at home. Reports revealed that he had lost a large sum of money through online betting. He sold his Jiyaguda house to repay debts but continued to face severe financial difficulties, according to his father Manik Rao.
In response, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner C.V. Anand Sajjanar shared an emotional post on X (formerly Twitter), urging people not to resort to suicide. “Suicide is not a solution. Your life is tied to many others — never take a step that destroys those bonds,” he wrote.
The Commissioner’s message aims to raise awareness about mental health and financial distress caused by online gambling. Police are investigating further to determine the platforms used by Srikanth for online betting and any links to betting networks.
