S. Ramadoss, the founder of PMK, has raised concerns about the number of suicides related to online gambling in Tamil Nadu. In a statement, he questioned the state government’s inaction in preventing these tragic deaths.
Nakkheeran quoted Ramadoss’s statement. “It is shocking that a young man named Manivasakan from Ariyalur district, who worked in a private factory in Hosur Industrial Estate, Krishnagiri district, hanged himself due to the mental stress of losing lakhs of rupees in online gambling and the burden of insurmountable debt,” said Ramadoss. “My deepest condolences and sympathies go out to his bereaved family and friends.”
Manivasakan, an online gambling addict, lost all his earnings and took loans from friends, colleagues, and relatives, accumulating a debt of over Rs. 50 lakhs. Unable to repay the debt, he committed suicide, leaving behind a young wife and a one-and-a-half-year-old child. His suicide note highlighted his despair over his financial situation and the impact of his gambling addiction, reported Tamil Asianet News.
Ramadoss pointed out that Manivasakan’s suicide is an example of the dangers of online gambling. He said that the government should not allow online gambling to continue. He emphasized that the problem has worsened since the Madras High Court ruled on November 10 that the Online Gambling Prohibition Act does not apply to skill-based games like rummy.
In the past nine days, four individuals have committed suicide due to online gambling debts – Mangadu Srinivasan on May 14, medical student Dhanush Kumar on May 15, engineering student Ramaiah Bhukala on May 17, and Manivasakan on May 22. In total, 11 people have taken their lives in the last six months following the court’s decision, reported Hindustan Times.
Ramadoss urged the Tamil Nadu government to seek a stay on the Madras High Court verdict from the Supreme Court to address these suicides. Despite repeated calls for action, the state government has not yet approached the Supreme Court. With the court now on summer vacation, an immediate ban on online gambling seems unlikely.
Ramadoss asked the Tamil Nadu government, “Are you going to watch as innocent people continue to lose their lives due to online gambling? The government must find a way to stay the Madras High Court judgment in favour of online rummy and provide an explanation to the public.”