Online Rummy Addiction Claims Five Lives in Tirupati District
Financial Crisis Behind Family Tragedy

Tirupati District | April 24

Police have solved the mystery behind the shocking death of five members of a family in Tirupati district. Investigations revealed a heartbreaking incident in which a man, trapped in heavy debts due to online rummy addiction, killed members of his family before taking his own life.

According to police officials, Mohan, a resident of Venkatakrishnapalem village in Narayanavanam mandal, allegedly murdered his mother Chandrakala and his wife Haritha at their home on Wednesday. After committing the crime, he went to his children’s school and falsely informed them that their uncle had died, bringing his two children — Kaushik (14) and Harini (12) — back home.

However, instead of allowing them to enter the house, Mohan took them on his scooter and drove around for some time. Eventually, he took them to a nearby railway track. As a train approached at high speed, Mohan jumped in front of it in an apparent suicide attempt. While trying to save their father, the two children were also hit by the train and died on the spot. The incident left the entire locality in deep shock and grief.

₹40 Lakh Debts Due to Online Rummy

Police investigations revealed that Mohan had become addicted to online rummy and had accumulated debts of nearly ₹40 lakh. Despite selling family assets and gold to repay some of the loans, he was unable to clear the remaining debts and was under immense financial pressure.

Frequent arguments reportedly occurred between Mohan and his wife due to these financial difficulties. Mohan had earlier been offered a railway job following the death of his father, who was a railway employee, but he eventually left the job.

His wife Haritha took responsibility for supporting the family. She worked in a beauty parlour and also did tailoring work to manage household expenses. Recently, she even started a cement shop for Mohan using money collected through a chit fund, hoping to stabilize their financial situation. Despite these efforts, Mohan failed to overcome his addiction and ultimately took this extreme step.

Postmortem examinations of all five bodies were conducted on Thursday, and the final rites were performed in their native village. Police have registered a case and further investigation is underway.

A Warning to the Public

Authorities and social observers warn that online gambling platforms such as rummy can become highly addictive and financially destructive.

• What starts as entertainment can quickly turn into a dangerous addiction.
• Playing money-based games can lead to severe financial losses and debts.
• One individual’s addiction can destroy the entire family.
• Setting strict limits on time and money spent on such games is essential.
• If addiction signs appear, seeking help from family members or professionals is crucial.

Online rummy is not just a game — it can become a life-destroying addiction.
For the sake of your family and future, stay away from gambling addictions.