Farmer wins Rs 1.53 Crore in Sankranti Cockfighting

Illegal cockfighting, which peaks in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the Sankranti festival, witnessed massive betting this season, with a farmer reportedly winning ₹1.53 crore in a single bout held in East Godavari district. Cockfighting events were conducted across several districts of Andhra Pradesh, including West Godavari, East Godavari, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, Krishna district and areas around the Polavaram region. Despite a government ban on cockfighting, the events were held openly, with police action reportedly minimal due to the presence of influential persons. Spectators placed bets ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh on individual roosters. Winning rooster owners were reportedly awarded prizes such as cars, motorcycles and gold. In Krishna district, betting amounts were allegedly counted using machines, reflecting the large scale of gambling involved.
Participants were said to have selected roosters after consulting horoscopes and auspicious timings. Sharp knives were tied to the legs of the birds, resulting in fierce fights, during which several roosters reportedly died on the spot. In a high-stakes cockfight held on Wednesday at the Venkatramaiah area in East Godavari district, roosters owned by Kudiwada Prabhakar and Rajamahendravaram-based Ramesh were pitted against each other. Ramesh’s rooster reportedly won the bout, earning prize money of ₹1.53 crore. Betting participants claimed that more than ₹100 crore was wagered on cockfighting events across the Telugu States in a single day, raising serious concerns over illegal gambling and animal cruelty during the festive period.