Vijaypat Kailashpat Singhania, former chairman of the Raymond group and recipient of the Padma Bhushan, passed away in Mumbai on Saturday, 28 March Singhania was publicly associat 2026. He was 87. In his later years, Mr Singhania was publicly associated with a prolonged legal dispute with his son over inheritance and family property — a matter that attracted considerable public attention and spilled into the courts. He had stated that he was turned out of the family home after transferring his wealth to his son. The issues were subsequently reported to have been resolved. His son and Raymond's current chairman and managing director, Gautam Singhania, confirmed the news on X (formerly Twitter), posting a brief tribute: "RIP. Om Shanti." A spokesperson for the Raymond Group added that he had "peacefully passed away earlier this evening."
The cremation was held on 29 March at Chandanwadi crematorium, following a funeral assembly at Haveli, LD Ruparel Marg. He is survived by his wife Ashadevi Singhania and three children — Madhupati Singhania, Shephali Ruia and Gautam Singhania.
Born on 4 October 1938, into one of India's established business families, Vijaypat assumed the chairmanship of Raymond in 1980 and held the position for two decades. His tenure predated the economic liberalisation of 1991 by more than a decade — a period when many legacy textile brands struggled to hold their ground. Raymond not only survived but expanded considerably under his watch.
Prior to taking the helm, he had already ventured into new areas including synthetic fabrics, denim, engineering, steel, and cement, helping forge a diversified industrial conglomerate. Under his stewardship, Raymond grew into a globally recognised brand in suiting fabrics and menswear, with significant expansion in manufacturing, retail, and exports. The brand's now-iconic positioning — including its long-running 'The Complete Man' campaign — took shape during his tenure. He stepped down in 2000, handing over leadership to his son Gautam Singhania along with his entire 37% stake in the company.
Beyond the boardroom, Mr Singhania was a serious aviator who accumulated over 5,000hours of flying time. His icons in this arena were Howard Hughes — the legendary aerospace engineer and business magnate — and Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, himself one of India's pioneering aviators.
In 1988, he completed a solo microlight flight from London's Biggin Hill Airport to Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi, covering the journey over 23 days and setting a speed-over-time endurance record. The microlight aircraft was subsequently displayed at the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai. In 1994, he won a gold medal at the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's around-the-world air race, flying alongside American co-pilot Daniel Brown in a Cessna Conquest aircraft.
His most dramatic aviation feat came in November 2005, when, at the age of 67, he set a world record by ascending to approximately 69,000 feet in a hot air balloon, taking off from the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai. He documented his flying experiences in a 2005 book, An Angel in the Cockpit: The True Story of a Death-Defying Flight Across 5000 Miles of Land and Sea.
His achievements across business and adventure brought him a range of formal recognitions. The Indian Air Force conferred upon him the rank of Honorary Air Commodore in 1994, acknowledging his exceptional flying record. The government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan — the country's third-highest civilian honour — in 2006, the same year he served as Sheriff of Mumbai. He also received the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award for Lifetime Achievement. He held an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)from the London Institute of Technology & Research, and in March 2007, was appointed chairman of the governing council of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, a role he held until 2012.
His life, as one account noted, "refuses to fit into the neat categories that obituaries prefer" — marked by immense public achievement and personal difficulty in equal measure.
Mr Singhania later wrote a memoir titled An Incomplete Life, a title that perhaps reflected his own reckoning with a career of considerable highs and a final chapter that was more complicated than his public legacy might suggest.
He was as comfortable in cockpits as in boardrooms, a corporate leader who pursued risk beyond the professional realm, in an era when few in his position did so. He built institutions, broke records and leaves behind an industrial legacy that remains visible in one of India's most recognised consumer brands. The soft-spoken industrialist was 87.
Bombay High Court Gags Lilavati Trust, Param Bir Singh in Defamation Case
Bar
and
Bench
27 March 2026
The Bombay High Court on Thursday restrained both the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Trust and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh from publishing or republishing alleged defamatory material against each other in media...
IPL Gold Rush: RCB Sold for ₹16,700 Crore, Rajasthan Royals Fetch Over ₹15,000 Crore in Mega Deals
Moneylife Digital Team
25 March 2026
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has entered a new phase of blockbuster valuations, with two major franchise sales, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), together commanding over US$3.4bn (billion) or around...
One Crore Indians in Gulf, Ships Stuck in Hormuz: PM Modi Calls for Global De-escalation
Moneylife Digital Team
24 March 2026
Prime minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict on India’s energy security, trade routes and the safety of Indian nationals, stating that several Indian crew...
Only Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs Can Claim To Be Scheduled Caste; Conversion To Any Other Religion Scraps SC Status: Supreme Court
Ritwik Choudhury (Bar
and
Bench)
24 March 2026
Only persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh or Buddhist faiths can claim Scheduled Caste status and conversion to any other faith like Christianity will result in the converted person losing Scheduled Caste status, the Supreme Court held on...
