Andhra Man Wins ₹1.53 Crore in High-Stakes Cockfight During Sankranti Festival

Amaravati:
In a startling incident highlighting the scale of illegal betting during festive cockfights, a man from Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district reportedly won a staggering ₹1.53 crore in a single bout held during the Makar Sankranti celebrations. The high-stakes contest took place in Tadepalligudem town, and is being described locally as one of the biggest wagers of the season.

The winner, identified as Rajahmundry Ramesh, placed a massive bet on his rooster named “Dega”, which emerged victorious against “Setuva”, owned by Gudivada Prabhakar, an experienced cockfight participant. Both roosters had sharp knives tied to their legs, a common but illegal practice in such fights. The match reportedly ended within a minute, sealing the win for Ramesh and earning him the entire prize money.

According to local reports, this was the largest single bet placed during the current Sankranti season. Videos aired on local television channels showed Ramesh and his associates celebrating wildly after the outcome of the fight.

Special Training for the Winning Rooster

Speaking to local media, Ramesh said he had spent six months preparing and strengthening his special-breed rooster, feeding it dry fruits and high-nutrition food to enhance its stamina and fighting ability. His meticulous preparation paid off when “Dega” defeated its rival in a swift and decisive bout.

Cockfights Continue Despite Ban

Despite court bans and repeated warnings from police and district authorities, large-scale cockfights continued across several parts of Andhra Pradesh for the second consecutive day. Organisers, allegedly backed by local political figures, set up special arenas in East Godavari, West Godavari, Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Eluru, Polavaram and Krishna districts.

Huge crowds gathered to witness the fights, with crores of rupees reportedly changing hands through gambling. Trained roosters fitted with small blades fought fiercely, often resulting in the death of one of the birds, while spectators cheered from the sidelines.

Illegal but Widely Practised

Cockfighting and gambling associated with it are banned under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act. However, enforcement appeared weak as warnings from authorities had little impact, with even public representatives allegedly attending or supporting the events.

Organisers reportedly planned to continue the cockfights into a third day, underscoring the deep-rooted cultural acceptance of the practice during Sankranti, despite its illegality and concerns over animal cruelty and unlawful betting.

The incident has once again raised serious questions about law enforcement, political patronage, and the unchecked scale of gambling during festival seasons in the state.