Chennai, Dec 22 (NationPress) PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss has highlighted the distressing fact that 17 individuals committed suicide over the past year because of online gambling. He has called upon the Tamil Nadu government to accelerate the ongoing Supreme Court case aimed at enforcing a ban on this activity.
In his statement, he mentioned the heart-wrenching case of a young man named Akash from Saidapet, who tragically took his own life after depleting all his savings through online gambling. "Akash had exhausted his savings and even borrowed funds from others to engage in online gambling. He lost Rs 30,000, which was intended for his mother's medical expenses. This heartbreaking incident exemplifies how online gambling can lead families into substantial debt and despair," he stated.
Ramadoss pointed out that online gambling was previously banned twice due to protests led by the PMK. However, the government's failure to uphold these bans in court led to their annulment, exacerbating the crisis.
Following the Madras High Court's decision to overturn the ban on skill games on November 10, 2023, 17 suicides, including that of Akash, have occurred, he noted.
He insisted that the only solution to prevent further tragedies is to secure a stay order from the Supreme Court against the High Court's ruling.
Ramadoss criticized the government for its sluggishness, contrasting its swift action to appeal the transfer of the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy case to the CBI within five days, while the appeal regarding online gambling has lingered for over a year.
Expressing concerns over the government's motives, he questioned whether it is prioritizing the interests of online gambling companies over the citizens. "Is this administration serving the public or the online gambling firms? The government must take immediate action to ensure the appeal is heard swiftly to put a stop to online gambling," he urged.
Akash, a 26-year-old catering delivery worker, became addicted to online rummy during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He resided with his mother, who is battling cancer, and his younger brother after losing their father. Tragically, he spent the Rs 30,000 that was saved for her treatment on gambling.
When his family discovered the missing funds and confronted him, he left home on Friday evening.
Despite their frantic search, his body was found on the terrace of their residence the next morning.
The Kottupuram police in Chennai have filed a case and begun an investigation. In the last four years, 48 suicides in Tamil Nadu have been associated with online betting addictions and online loan frauds.
These occurrences underscore the escalating crisis stemming from unregulated online gambling. The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) has pledged to take stringent action against those promoting online gambling and betting applications.
Citizens are urged to report gambling activities or share suggestions on regulating online games through www.tnonlinegamingauthority.com or by emailing tnoga@tn.gov.in.
The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022 prohibits online gambling, betting, and games of chance.
Those who violate this law face up to three months of imprisonment, fines up to Rs 5,000, or both. Financial institutions and payment gateways are also barred from facilitating transactions related to online gambling.
Advertisements promoting such activities are prohibited across all media platforms in Tamil Nadu.
—IANS
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