Bangalore:

Darshan Babu is an engineer who loves betting on cricket matches and is betting big on Indian Premier League (IPL) matches from 2021 onwards. He often borrowed money after losing bets or placed more bets when funds were short. His 23-year-old wife, tired of constant harassment from her creditors, committed suicide.

On March 18, Ranjitha was found hanging at her home in Chitradurga, Karnataka. According to family members, Darshan had incurred a debt of over Rs 1 crore.

He worked as an assistant engineer in the minor irrigation department in Hosadurga and got into the IPL betting space from 2021 to 2023. This took a heavy toll on the couple’s finances. He allegedly borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh for betting after his luck ran out and he lost all his money. Although he managed to repay Rs 1 crore, police said he still had an outstanding loan of Rs 84 lakh.

Ranjitha married Darshan in 2020. Her father Venkatesh claimed that she realized the truth about Darshan’s involvement in gambling in 2021.

In his complaint, Venkatesh stated that his daughter was in extreme pain due to constant harassment by moneylenders, which led to her suicide. He also named 13 people who allegedly borrowed money.

He said his son-in-law was lured into gambling with the promise of quick money.

“He (Darshan) was unwilling to get involved in gambling, but the suspects forced him to say it was an easy way to get rich. They promised to fund his gambling activities with some blank checks as security,” he said.

During their investigation, police discovered a suicide note detailing the harassment they faced. Darshan and Ranjitha have a two-year-old son.