Karimnagar youth uses intoxicating tablets to loot elderly couple for online betting debts

A 35-year-old youth addicted to online betting allegedly drugged an elderly couple in Karimnagar’s Garshakurthi village to steal their gold. The man died, while his wife is critical. Police recovered gold, cash and tablets from the accused, who was arrested

Karimnagar: A youngster, who incurred huge debts due to his online betting addiction, allegedly gave intoxicating tablets to an elderly couple and fled with their gold ornaments. The man died, while his wife remains critical in hospital. The incident occurred on October 7 in Garshakurthi of Gangadhara mandal.

The couple, Gajjala Shankaraiah (76) and his wife Laxmi, lived alone as they had no children.

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The accused, Kathi Shiva, a nearby resident, occasionally helped the couple by bringing medicines and groceries. Addicted to online betting and card games, Shiva had accumulated debts of about Rs 10 lakh. To settle his dues, he planned to kill the couple and steal Laxmi’s gold chain. To avoid suspicion, he decided to give them intoxicating tablets to make it appear as though their deaths were due to illness. Knowing they were suffering from fever, cold and body pains, Shiva used tablets he had stored earlier while working at a toddy shop in Mumbai.

At around 8.30 am on October 7, he persuaded the couple to take six tablets each, claiming they would give immediate relief, and left their home. Within two hours, both fell unconscious. Shiva later returned, removed Laxmi’s gold chain and fled.

Neighbours alerted other villagers after finding the couple unconscious. Both were shifted to Karimnagar Government Hospital, where Shankaraiah died on October 8. Laxmi is in critical condition.

Shiva sold the stolen gold to a local goldsmith, Katta Srinivasachary, for Rs 1.85 lakh. Karimnagar Commissioner of Police Gaush Alam presented the accused before the media on Monday and detailed the incident. Recovered from Shiva were a 20.25-gram gold chain, Rs 25,000 in cash, 11 covers containing tablets and a mobile phone.