Digital Debt and Despair: MBBS Student’s Death Ignites Urgent Call for Gaming Addiction Reform

BIDAR, KARNATAKA — The tragic death of Anishkar Chouhan, a 21-year-old final-year MBBS student at the Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS), has sent shockwaves through the medical community and intensified a national debate over the escalating crisis of online gaming addiction in India. Chouhan was found in his hostel room in the early hours of March 24, 2026. Preliminary police investigations point to a devastating spiral of financial loss and psychological distress linked to high-stakes online gaming.

The incident underscores a harrowing irony: a young man trained to preserve life found himself unable to navigate a digital compulsion that ultimately claimed his own. As authorities recover deleted data from Chouhan’s phone to identify the specific platforms involved, public health experts are warning that the line between “recreation” and “pathology” is thinning for millions of Indian youth.

A Career Cut Short by Virtual Losses

Anishkar Chouhan, a resident of Salgar Thanda village, was by all accounts a high-achieving student nearing the completion of his medical degree. However, behind the academic success lay a mounting burden of debt. Bidar Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti confirmed that Chouhan had reportedly lost between ₹70,000 and ₹80,000—funds borrowed from friends to sustain his gaming activities.

WhatsApp messages recovered by investigators revealed a young man overwhelmed by financial pressure and the perceived shame of his losses. “This case fits a disturbing and increasingly common pattern,” notes a Bengaluru-based forensic psychologist. “Financial ruin from online games often leads to profound isolation. The student feels they cannot turn to their family without shattering their ‘perfect’ image, leading to a state of hopelessness.”

The Explosion of India’s Gaming Landscape

The scale of the problem is mirrored in the explosive growth of the industry. In 2024, India’s gaming market was valued at approximately ₹3.7 lakh crore, boasting over 590 million gamers. While the majority play without incident, a significant subset falls into the trap of “real-money” gaming, where the boundary between gaming and gambling is often blurred.

Data from Karnataka paints a grim picture: between 2023 and mid-2025, the state reported 32 suicides directly linked to online gaming and gambling, with Bengaluru accounting for two-thirds of these tragedies. Nationally, the trend is equally alarming. A recent study by PGI Chandigarh found that 15.9% of Indian youth suffer from internet addiction, with the prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) reaching 5.3%—significantly higher than the global average of 3% to 3.5%.

Recognizing the “Kick”: The Medicine of Addiction

The medical community has been formalizing the definition of this struggle for years. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially included “Gaming Disorder” in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). It is defined by three key criteria:

1. Impaired control over gaming (frequency, intensity, duration).

2. Increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that it takes precedence over life interests and daily activities.

3. Continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Head of Psychiatry at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, explains that the neurological mechanism is strikingly similar to substance abuse. “Online gaming provides a neurochemical ‘kick’—a dopamine release—that hooks the brain’s reward system,” Dr. Kumar explains. “For a student under the high pressure of medical school, this can start as a way to de-stress but rapidly evolves into a compulsion they can no longer regulate.”

Dr. Pretty Duggar Gupta, Consultant Psychiatrist at Aster Whitefield Hospital, notes that the impact is holistic. “It’s not just about the hours spent. It’s about the displacement of sleep, the erosion of social functioning, and the development of irritability and aggression when not playing.”

Vulnerability in High-Achievers

The death of an MBBS student highlights a specific vulnerability among high-performing students. The rigors of medical education often leave students with limited healthy outlets for stress.

“There is a bidirectional link,” says Dr. Shashidhar S. Bilagi, a prominent psychiatrist. “Pre-existing academic stress or anxiety fuels the need for the ‘escape’ of gaming. However, the gaming then worsens the mental health state by creating debt, disrupting sleep, and lowering self-esteem, creating a lethal cycle.”

In response to these rising numbers, the Economic Survey 2026 recently flagged digital addictions as a burgeoning threat to national productivity, citing reduced employability and increased long-term healthcare costs.

A Balanced Perspective: Use vs. Abuse

While the statistics are sobering, experts caution against demonizing all digital interaction. Dr. Joan Harvey of the British Psychological Society has previously warned that over-labeling can lead to the stigmatization of a hobby enjoyed by millions. Not every person who plays for several hours a day meets the clinical criteria for a disorder.

The distinction lies in harm. When gaming begins to involve financial deception, the borrowing of money, or the neglect of basic hygiene and professional duties, it shifts from a pastime to a clinical emergency. Early intervention—through family dialogue, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and digital literacy—has shown high success rates in reversing addiction trends.

The Path Forward: Policy and Prevention

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has described the current state of unregulated online games as “more dangerous than drugs,” calling for stricter legislative oversight. Policymakers are currently evaluating the Online Gaming Bill, which aims to differentiate between “games of skill” and “games of chance” that involve real money.

For individuals and families, experts suggest several practical steps:

• Set Hard Limits: Use built-in OS tools to restrict gaming time.

• Financial Monitoring: Keep a close eye on digital wallet transactions and unexplained “loans” among students.

• Institutional Screening: Colleges, particularly high-pressure environments like medical and engineering schools, should integrate mental health screening tools like the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form.

As Kalaburagi mourns the loss of Anishkar Chouhan, his story serves as a stark reminder that digital safety is no longer just about privacy and data—it is a matter of mental health and survival.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.

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