Thissur

When the 45-year old Becks Krishna boarded his flight to India after spending six years in a jail in Abu Dhabi for killing a man in a road accident, he could hardly believe he was a free man.

Tears welled in his eyes as he saw his wife Veena and son Advait at the Cohin airport.

However, the only name on his lips at that time was of business tycoon M.A. Yusuff Ali, who had paid Rs 1 crore as ‘blood money’ to the family of the Sudanese boy killed in a accident involving Krihsna’s car in Abu Dhabi, six year ago.

Krishna said, “I never thought that this day would ever come.”

M A Yusuff Ali hailing from Kerala is a Gulf based NRI and a philanthropist. In Kerala he is known for giving the first mega mall “Lulu Mall” to people of Cochin and for his philanthropy.

The Supreme Court of UAE had convicted Krishnan of driving recklessly and ploughing his car close to a group of children in Abhu Dhabi. The only child injured in the accident died later.

Krishna was taken into custod, sentenced to death and put in the jail.

Krishna said, “While in jail there, I heard about six or seven such instances when similar people were accused in cases like mine and they were given this harsh punishment. That's why I was very upset."

His family in Thrissur had tried to contact the family of the boy killed in accident and settle the issue with them by paying compensation. However, initially they didn’t accept the offer and later the family shifted back to Sudan and could not be contacted for any negotiation.

His family got in touch with Yusuff Ali, Chairman of the Lulu group of Companisthat owns Lulu Hypermarkets and shopping malls and is one of the top retailers in the Middle East and North African region (MENA).

Yusuff Ali agreed to help and with his vast network managed to trace the aggrieved family. It was finally in January 2021 that the Sudanese family agreed to accept 500,000 dirham ( approximatelyRs 1 crore) as blood money and pardon Krishna.

The Lulu group released a statement announcing this and sending a wave of joy in Krishna’s family.

The group deposited the money in the court and it will go to the bereaved family.

Krishna said, “When I heard that Ali sir had taken over my case, I regained the hope I had lost and it has now become a reality. I will always be grateful to him. He said he release and return home was a rebirth for me.”

On his part Yusuff Ali thanked the Almighty and the benevolent rulers of the UAE for being considerate and helping settle the case.

The Lulu group has also offered to help Krishna get a job in Kerala.

Yusuff Ali said in a statement, “I have offered him a job and he can come back when he wants to. He has to move on with his life as well and that's why I offered him a job."