Indian-British billionaire Gopichand P. Hinduja, known as the UK's richest businessman, has passed away aged 85, Tory lawmaker Rami Ranger said on Tuesday.
Widely known as "GP" in business circles, he was the chairman of both the Hinduja Group and Hinduja Automotive Ltd in the UK, making the Hinduja family the richest in the UK as of 2024, with a net worth of £35.3 billion (192,700 crore) to their name, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
He was unwell over the past few weeks leading up to his death in a London hospital, a PTI report said, citing sources close to the family. He is survived by his wife Sunita, two sons Sanjay and Dheeraj, and a daughter Rita.
"He was one of the most gracious, humble, and loyal friends. His passing marks the end of an era, as he was truly a well-wisher of the community and a guiding force," said Ranger, who is a member of the British House of Lords, in a statement on Tuesday condoling the billionaire's demise, as per a Hindustan Times report.
“I had the privilege of knowing him over many years; his qualities were unique—tremendous sense of humour, commitment to the community and country, India—and he always supported good causes. He has left a huge vacuum behind that will be difficult to fill. May he rest in peace in heaven. Om Shanti,” he added.
The second-generation businessman took over as chairman of the Indian conglomerate after the death of his elder brother, Srichand, in May 2023. Under his leadership, the Hinduja Group expanded its footprint across various industries, such as banking, media, real estate, and energy.
G.P. Hinduja started his career within the family enterprise in Mumbai in the early 1960s, which had already been involved in a number of activities, including iron ore exports to Iran and selling certain food items. Continuing the focus on the Middle East, the Hinduja Group slowly grew into a diversified business group worth billions.
A crucial turning point in the Hinduja family's journey was the crucial acquisition of Gulf Oil in 1984—a decision in which he was said to be have been very much involved—which paved the way for the tough purchase of the then-struggling vehicle brand Ashok Leyland in 1987, for which he had to fight Rahul Bajaj. Ashok Leyland quickly went on to become a success story—one of the first major NRI-led investments in India.
The Hinduja family also famously battled accusations of receiving payments totalling $8.3 million in illegal commissions to help secure an Indian government contract for AB Bofors, a Swedish gunmaker.
The 14-year-long legal battle ultimately ended in May 2005, when the Hinduja family was cleared of all accusations, as the authenticity of the accusations against them could not be verified, as per a Guardian report.
Born in 1940, Gopichand Hinduja graduated from Mumbai's Jai Hind College in 1959, and was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree from the University of Westminster, in addition to an honorary Doctorate of Economics from London's Richmond College.
