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Option Trading Losses: He person says what began as casual investing gradually turned into an unhealthy habit.
F&O Losses.
The dangers of options trading have once again come under the spotlight after a 30-year-old salaried professional claimed on social media that he lost more than Rs 2 crore in derivatives trading and is now struggling under a mountain of debt.
In a detailed post on Reddit that has since gone viral, the man said he earns around Rs 2.85 lakh a month but accumulated massive losses over the years by trading options, repeatedly borrowing money in an attempt to recover earlier setbacks.
“I’m a 30-year-old salaried professional working at a reputed firm in India. My monthly take-home is around Rs 2.85L. On paper, things look fine — but the reality is very different,” he wrote.
He said what began as casual investing gradually turned into an unhealthy habit. “Over the last few years, I got deeply into options trading. What started as ‘side investing’ slowly turned into something unhealthy. Long story short, I’ve lost a very large amount of money (2 cr+), and to plug losses and keep things afloat, I kept borrowing.”
According to the post, his unsecured liabilities now include about Rs 27 lakh in a personal loan from HDFC Bank, Rs 28 lakh in a Bajaj overdraft loan, Rs 8-9 lakh from smaller NBFCs, and nearly Rs 12 lakh in credit card dues across two cards.
Facing soaring EMIs and interest outgo, the man said he is considering defaulting on the loans and later negotiating settlements, even if it means damaging his credit score. “At this point, my EMIs + interest are so high that even with my salary, there’s no realistic way to service everything without living in constant panic,” he wrote, adding that he has stopped trading completely.
“I’ve been thinking seriously about defaulting and then possibly negotiating settlements later. I understand that this will destroy my credit score, and I’ve mostly accepted that I may not be able to take loans for many years. I’m okay with that if it buys me mental peace and a chance to rebuild properly,” he said.
The man stressed that he is not trying to evade responsibility and wants to rebuild his life honestly. “I’m not trying to ‘run away’ or game the system. I’m just trying to choose between two bad options and pick the one that lets me live a stable, honest life going forward,” he wrote, adding that he plans to get married in the coming years and wants clarity on whether a default would permanently damage his future.
He also sought advice on practical risks associated with default, including recovery harassment, salary attachment, employer involvement and the impact on family members. “What actually happens in India if you default on multiple unsecured loans? How bad does recovery harassment realistically get? Is salary attachment a real risk for someone in a corporate job?” he asked.
The post triggered a flurry of responses from netizens, many cautioning him against defaulting, especially on credit card dues, citing the risk of sustained harassment. Some users advised exploring debt consolidation as a less damaging alternative.
“Try to talk with one of the bigger banks about consolidating your debt into a single loan. Given your current condition, they might charge a higher interest than prime, but still an 80L loan at 13% for 5 years will come to an EMI of 1.8L,” one user suggested, noting that it could still leave some room for monthly expenses.
Others advised prioritising repayment of high-interest loans. “Clear the loans with the highest interest rates first (probably in following order): Credit Card, NBFC, Bajaj OD, HDFC,” another user wrote.
Several commenters also urged him to stay calm and seek professional financial advice. “You are in a hole but you have decent pay should be doable,” one netizen said, while another added, “Take help from some good finance management firm and don’t settle the dues as it will hurt in the long run… You will get over it and you will definitely win this.”
The episode has reignited debate online over the risks of leveraged options trading and the psychological and financial toll it can take on retail investors when losses spiral out of control.
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January 07, 2026, 12:44 IST
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