Yusuff Ali clears Rs 34.5 lakh debt, saves ex-Keralam athlete from eviction

Kannur: Lulu Group chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali has come to the rescue of a former Kerala throwball player and her family by clearing their outstanding bank loan of Rs 34,53,387, including interest, and securing the release of their house from seizure.

Ashwathy, her husband Nidhin, their two daughters, and her in-laws had been living in a small, unfinished section of their house in Taliparamba after Kerala Bank seized the property over loan default. The six-member family had been struggling to make ends meet amid medical expenses and loss of income.

According to Lulu Group media manager N.B. Swaraj, Yusuff Ali came across a report about the family's plight while travelling from London. He contacted the media team around 2 am and instructed them to settle the outstanding amount and ensure the house was returned to the family. The payment was reportedly completed that afternoon, with the family set to regain possession after the bank formalities were completed.

The family had borrowed Rs 15 lakh from Kerala Bank in 2018 by pledging 35 cents of Nidhin's family's property. The loan was taken in his mother Aramban Sunila's name. Repayments stopped after Nidhin fractured his leg in a fall while working, and the family also faced medical expenses and financial difficulties. The outstanding amount subsequently rose to more than Rs 34 lakh.

Ashwathy had represented Kerala in throwball competitions for seven years. She had also played inter-collegiate football for Kannur University. The family comprises Ashwathy, Nidhin, their daughters Akrita and Aami, and Nidhin's parents, Sunila and Thomas.