Doctor found dead amid suspected gambling-related financial troubles

A 29-year-old doctor from Vedachandur in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul district, India, was found dead in his car near the hill town of Kodaikanal.

According to India Today, police say Joshua Samraj died by suicide, and it appears that mounting debt from online gambling played a major role in what happened.

Samraj had earned his medical degree in the Philippines and had been working in several hospitals across Tamil Nadu, while pursuing his second year of postgraduate medical studies from Salem when also working in Madurai.

He had been reported missing four days before he was found, with his relatives filing a complaint at the Vedachandur Police Station. Concern grew after local commuters in Poombarai noticed a car that had been parked in the same spot for several days and alerted the authorities.

When police arrived at the scene, they discovered his body inside the vehicle. During the investigation, officers found his mobile phone, which revealed a series of bank transactions pointing to serious financial trouble. However, authorities stated, “There were reports that he took the extreme step due to losses in online gaming. We have not found any such detail in his suicide note, nor do his parents say so. We are investigating.”

Authorities had found the suicide note inside the vehicle. “The doctor has apologised to his family in the suicide note, but has neither blamed anyone nor given any reason. His family has said he was depressed because of an issue in a relationship,” the police said.

They added that only a post-mortem examination will confirm the exact cause of death.

At ReadWrite, the well-being of our readers is our top priority. We strongly encourage responsible gambling at all times. That means setting a budget, staying within your limits, and never trying to recover losses by continuing to gamble. It’s also important to take regular breaks and check in with yourself.

If you ever feel that gambling is becoming a problem, you’re not alone and help is available. You can reach out to the national gambling addiction helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER. For additional support and resources, consider visiting these organizations:

• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)
• Gamblers Anonymous
• Gambling Therapy
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• GamTalk
• Smart Recovery

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