Industrialist G P Birla passes away

G P Birla, noted industrialist and the second most eldest member of the Birla clan, passed away after a brief illness in Kolkata on Friday evening.

Birla, 86, was younger to his cousin B K Birla, who is now 90. His father, late B M Birla, was the founder of the GP-CK Birla group which has interests in automobiles, bearings, earthmoving, power transmission equipment, cement, fan, IT and consumer durables among others.

The group has also set up renowned medical research centres and hospitals besides educational institutions.

With the group's turnover hovering at nearly Rs 1,500 crore, G P Birla had passed on the businesses to his only son C K Birla. Some popular companies like Hindustan Motors, Orient Industries and Birla Technical Services fall under the group's fold.