Becks Krishnan's son thanks Yussuf Ali for saving father from death row in Abu Dhabi

Becks Krishnan's son Adwaith and wife Veena with their parents.

Abu Dhabi: When his father Becks Krishnan bid goodbye to him at the Abu Dhabi jail in 2017, seven-year-old Adwaith teared up. The little boy knew that the chances of meeting his father again were dim. Adwaith knew his father was on a death row. 

But good fortune smiled upon his family. Becks Krishnan was saved by prominent NRI businessman and philanthropist M A Yusuff Ali who helped to pay his "blood money" amounting nearly Rs one crore.

Eleven-year-old Adwaith is eternally grateful to the businessman for giving his father back.

Meanwhile, Becks Krishnan, who was on death row in the United Arab Emirates over the death of a young Sudanese boy in a road accident in 2012, can't believe that he will be a free man and can return to the country to be with his family.

Krishnan, who hails from Kerala, was sentenced to death by UAE Supreme Court after he was found guilty of killing a young Sudanese boy when the car he drove rammed into a group of children in September 2012.

M A Yusuff Ali, Becks Krishnan
M A Yusuff Ali, Becks Krishnan

Ever since, his family and friends have been trying hard for Krishnan's release without any success, especially as the victim's family had already gone back and settled in Sudan, putting an end to any discussion or pardon.

The Krishnan family then approached Yusuff Ali, Chairman of Lulu Group, who went about getting the details of the case and got in touch with all stakeholders.

Eventually, in January 2021, the victim's family in Sudan agreed to pardon Krishnan. Subsequently, Yusuff Ali paid 500,000 Dirhams (approximately Rs one crore) as compensation in the court to secure the man's release, the Lulu group said here in a statement.

Talking to the Indian embassy officials yesterday in Al Watba Jail in Abu Dhabi, a highly emotional Krishnan could not believe the turn of events.

“It's a re-birth for me, as I had lost all hope of seeing the outside world, let alone a free life. My only wish now is to see Yusuff Ali once before flying to my family," Krishnan was quoted as saying in the statement.

Responding to the news, Yusuff Ali simply thanked almighty and the benevolence of visionary rulers of UAE for the release of Krishnan and wished him a happy and peaceful life ahead.

All legal procedures related to Krishnan's release have been completed on Thursday and he is expected to travel back to his hometown in Kerala soon, putting an end to nine years of agony for him and his family, a senior official of the Lulu Group told PTI over phone.

Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Group that owns Lulu Hypermarkets and shopping malls, is one of the top retailers in the Middle East and North African region (MENA).  

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