Online gaming addiction turns youth into killer

 Online gaming addiction turns youth into killer

Son murders mother after being caught stealing jewellery to repay betting debts

By Sagaya Fernando | October 7, 2025

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: A 20-year-old youth from Lucknow, addicted to online gaming and betting, brutally murdered his mother after she caught him stealing jewellery to repay mounting debts. The accused, identified as Nikhil Yadav alias Golu, was arrested from Fatehpur district after a joint operation by the PGI Police Station, Surveillance Cell, and the South Zone Crime Team, police said on October 6.

According to investigators, Nikhil, an undergraduate and resident of the Kalli area in Lucknow, had become severely addicted to online games, particularly the betting game “Aviator” hosted on the website tirangagamee.games. Police said he had lost significant amounts of money while playing the game and began borrowing funds through several app-based loan platforms such as M Pokket, Flash Wallet, and RAM Fincorp, all of which charged high interest rates and hidden fees.

As the debts piled up, Nikhil resorted to stealing jewellery from his own home to repay lenders. He had reportedly stolen from his mother earlier as well. On October 3, he returned home after visiting his maternal uncle’s house and attempted to steal again when his mother, Reshma Yadav (45), caught him in the act.

An argument broke out, during which Nikhil allegedly attacked her with a screwdriver before smashing her head with a gas cylinder. He then ransacked the house to make it appear like a robbery, packed the stolen jewellery and the murder weapon into his bag, and fled on his father’s motorcycle.

After fleeing, Nikhil phoned his father, Ramesh Yadav, fabricating a story that unknown assailants had broken into their house, attacked both him and his mother, and killed her while he managed to escape. He then switched off his cellphone and went into hiding.

When Ramesh Yadav rushed home, he found the house ransacked and his wife lying in a pool of blood. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Initially, he told police that burglars had killed his wife and looted valuables worth around ₹5–6 lakh.

However, police suspicion soon turned toward Nikhil after CCTV footage and inconsistencies in his story surfaced. The post-mortem report confirmed multiple injuries on Reshma’s body consistent with a violent assault.

“Technical surveillance and CCTV footage were instrumental in tracing the accused,” said DCP (Lucknow South) Nipun Agarwal, who briefed the media along with Additional DCP Ralapalli Vasanth Kumar and ACP Rishabh Runwal.

During interrogation, Nikhil confessed to the crime, admitting that his mother’s confrontation had triggered panic and rage, leading to the fatal attack. Police recovered the stolen jewellery, his cellphone, and the murder weapon (screwdriver) from his possession.

Station House Officer Dheerendra Kumar Singh of PGI Police Station confirmed that Nikhil was produced before a local court and has been sent to judicial custody.

The accused has been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 103 (murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence or false information to protect offender), and 315 (dishonest misappropriation of property belonging to the deceased).

Recognising the swift resolution of the case, the Deputy Police Commissioner announced a cash reward of ₹25,000 for the investigating team.

Police officials described the incident as a grim reminder of the growing menace of online gaming and betting addiction, which has increasingly pushed young individuals toward financial ruin and violent crime.