<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Three members of a family ended their lives, allegedly after losing money in online gambling in Karnataka's Mysuru district on Tuesday.&nbsp;
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The incident took place near Hanchya village, close to Mysuru.<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&nbsp;
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The deceased were identified as Josh Anthony, his brother Joby Anthony, and Joby's wife Sharmila, also known as Swathi.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">According to the police, Joby Anthony and Sharmila had lost a significant amount of money by betting on IPL cricket matches and online gaming.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">People who had lent them money frequently visited them, demanding repayment.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Anthony, distressed and under immense pressure, ended his life first.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Josh died by suicide on February 17 (Monday) by hanging.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Before his death, he recorded a video in which he accused Anthony and Sharmila of fraudulently obtaining loans using their sister's name.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"My sister does not have a husband, and Joby and his wife have committed fraud against her. My brother Joby Anthony and his wife Sharmila are responsible for my death. They should be punished," Josh stated in the video.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Upon learning of Josh's suicide, Anthony and Sharmila also died by suicide by hanging on Tuesday.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The police have launched an investigation into the matter.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">During its tenure, the BJP-led Karnataka government introduced an amendment to the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, banning online betting and wagering games. The ruling BJP had announced that it would not allow online betting, as it was destroying families.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In 2022, the High Court struck down guidelines that criminalised online gaming and betting.
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Former Speaker and senior Congress leader Ramesh Kumar had raised concerns during a Legislative Session, urging the then BJP government to take strict action against the rapid growth of betting activities.<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&nbsp;
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #001e2f; background: white; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">&mdash;IANS

The deceased were identified as Josh Anthony, Joby Anthony & Sharmila (File Photo)

Joby Anthony & his wife Sharmila had suffered financial loss by betting on IPL matches

K'taka Family Commits Suicide Over Online Gambling Loss

Joby Anthony & his wife Sharmila had suffered financial loss by betting on IPL matches

February 18, 2025 | 15:30 IST