Gambler's grief-stricken mother attempts suicide

HYDERABAD: It was a double tragedy for the Rao household in Rasoolpura. After hearing news of her son Srinivas Rao's death, his mother Annapurna (65) attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills at her residence in Ananthanagar Colony.

Srinivas Rao, who reportedly lost Rs 3 lakh in three days on gambling, had jumped to death from the third floor of the Country Club building at Begumpet on Tuesday.

'After receiving information from Srinivas's friends and relatives about his suicide, his mother also attempted suicide by consuming more than 25 sleeping pills.

She is now undergoing treatment and could not attend her son's final rites held on Wednesday,' said Yadgiri, a resident of Vanasthalipuram and close associate of Srinivas Rao since 1996.

KM Srinivas Rao was manager at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Technology, who also invested in real estate. However, his addiction to gambling, which he did not stop even after several warnings from his mother, led to his undoing.

After finishing his breakfast on Tuesday, Rao went to the Country Club and played cards till evening. He had his lunch there and a little after 5 p.m jumped to death from the third floor of the Country Club Kool building.

Yadgiri said around 8.30 a.m on Tuesday, he received a call from Srinivas asking him to come to the Country Club to have lunch. 'He called me twice and asked me to meet at the Country Club. A few minutes later, a friend called me and said Srinivas Rao had committed suicide,'' he said adding that Srinivas's father, K Mutyala Rao, had died one-and-half-year back.

A number of relatives and friends arrived at the Rao residence on Wednesday to console family members. A few persons, who lent money to Srinivas had also made a bee-line in front of the house. 'What can I do now? I lent some money to Srinivas and he is no more. I wanted to talk to his mother but she is also now in hospital. I don't know whether I will get back my money or not,' said Giri Prasad

Meanwhile, Punjagutta police have registered a cheating case on the Country Club management. Stephen Ravindra, deputy commissioner of police (West Zone) said, 'We registered a case as the management had violated High Court directions of maintaining proper details of people taking part in Rummy games organised by the club,' said Ravindra. Police have arrested four persons including the club's general manager Venugopal.