BILLIONAIRE INDUSTRIALIST GOPICHAND HINDUJA DIES AGED 85

Gopichand P. Hinduja, the billionaire patriarch of Britain’s wealthiest family whose business interests span automotive, banking, energy and infrastructure, passed away in London on Tuesday. He was 85.

Known affectionately in business circles as GP, Gopichand was the second of the four Hinduja brothers who together built one of the world’s most diversified conglomerates. The group’s vast portfolio includes marquee names such as Ashok Leyland, IndusInd Bank, Reliance Capital and Indo Gulf Industries.

Following the passing of his elder brother, Srichand Hinduja, in 2023, Gopichand assumed charge as chairman of the £35-billion Hinduja Group.

He is survived by his wife, Sunita; sons, Sanjay and Dheeraj; and daughter, Rita.

A graduate of Jai Hind College, Mumbai (Class of 1959), Gopichand began his professional journey in the family’s trading business in Tehran before expanding its footprint across continents.

Under his stewardship, the group made landmark acquisitions — notably Gulf Oil in 1984 and the then-struggling Indian automotive manufacturer Ashok Leyland in 1987 — the latter marking one of the earliest major NRI investments in India.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu described Gopichand Hinduja as “a visionary industrialist who was instrumental in transforming the group into a truly global conglomerate.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Naveen Jindal, chairman of Jindal Steel, said, “Through his remarkable leadership, the Hinduja Group became a symbol of Indian enterprise and global excellence. His legacy of integrity, innovation and service will continue to inspire generations.”

Despite a dip in their overall fortune, the Hinduja family retained the top spot on The Sunday Times Rich List, with a net worth estimated at £35.3 billion.

Their notable property holdings in the UK include the 67,000 sq ft 18th-century Carlton House Terrace near Buckingham Palace and the historic Old War Office building in Whitehall — now home to the opulent Raffles London hotel, which opened to great acclaim in September 2023.

Following Gopichand’s demise, attention is expected to turn to the group’s succession plans. Under the current structure, his brother Prakash Hinduja serves as chairman of Hinduja Group (Europe), while Ashok Hinduja heads the Hinduja Group of Companies in India.

The Hinduja family has, in recent years, been embroiled in a legal dispute over the control of its vast wealth. After Srichand’s death in 2023, it emerged that Gopichand and his younger brothers — Prakash, 79, and Ashok, 74 — had been in conflict with Srichand and his daughter, Vinoo, over a 2014 letter signed by the four siblings, asserting that assets held by one belonged to all.