Rahul Bajaj, former Chairman of Bajaj groups, passes away at 83

Rahul Bajaj, the man who made brand Bajaj a household name through scooter models like Chetak and Priya and the ubiquitous Bajaj three-wheeler auto, passed away at 83.

A Padma Bhushan-awardee Rahul Bajaj was one of the longest-serving chairmen in corporate India.

"It is with deep sorrow that I inform you about the passing away of Shri Rahul Bajaj, husband of the late Rupa Bajaj and father of Rajiv/Deepa, Sanjiv/Shefali and Sunaina/Manish. He passed away on the afternoon of February 12, 2022, in the presence of his closest family members," Bajaj Group said in a statement.

Rahul Bajaj stepped down as non-executive Chairman of Bajaj Auto in April 2021, ceding the position to his cousin Niraj Bajaj.

The last rites of the former member of Rajya Sabha were performed with full state honours at Vaikuntha crematorium in Pune on February 13.

He had served as Chairman of the erstwhile Indian Airlines from 1986 to 1989. He also served as president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Expressing his condolences, Former Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, "Rahul Bajaj was the one who put average Indians on two motorised wheels. In his passing away, we have lost a far-sighted and outspoken business leader. My sincere condolences to his family and numerous members of the Bajaj family and Bajaj group of business."

Indian Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid his tributes.
"My heartfelt tributes to Rahul Bajajji, a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and former Chairman of Bajaj. I had a personal relationship with Padma Bhushan awardee Rahulji for many years. Rahul ji, who has led the Bajaj Group for the last five decades, has been instrumental in the industry. May God rest the departed soul and give strength to the family members. Om Shanti," he said in a tweet.

(ANI)