Unkempt writer mistaken for murderer

J Francis Krupa, who has penned lyrics for songs in Tamil movies including Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu and co- written screenplay for the biopic on former chief minister K Kamaraj, was secured by the police on Saturday after he was found with the dead man’s body on his lap. Though he was trying to help the other man, the public mistook him for murdering the person – later identified as Rajesh Mithun (34) from Assam who was working as a labourer in the flower market – apparently due to the poet’s unkempt look with long beard and uncombed hair.

However, after viewing the CCTV footage, it was revealed that Francis was trying to help Rajesh who fell unconscious. Post-mortem examination reports confirmed that Rajesh died of medical reasons. His brother, who also works at the flower market, said Rajesh used to often suffer from seizures.

“Francis, who was in an inebriated condition, went to the market to get some details for a film and found Rajesh lying unconscious. He picked him up to give first-aid. Initially, he was secured on suspicion, but he was let off after interrogation,” said Inspector Deepak Kumar, who investigated the incident. After the autopsy confirmed that it was a natural death, the case has been altered to Section 174 of CrPC.

Director A Balakrishnan, who has worked with Francis, said that the writer hails from Pathiniparai village in Tirunelveli. He often stayed in Koyambedu bus terminus when he was not able to get a room. “He co-wrote the film Kamaraj, as the writer Chembur Jayaraj wanted him to work the for the film and gave him due credit. He collected necessary materials for the film,” said Balakrishnan.

Representatives of Thamizhini Pathippagam, the publishing house that brought out his novel Kanni said Francis was a kind-hearted man.