Age, Biography and Wiki

Rajan Pillai was born on 1947 in Kerala, India, is an Indian fraudster and businessman (died 1995). Discover Rajan Pillai's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 48 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation Businessman
Age 48 years old
Zodiac Sign
Born 1947, 1947
Birthday 1947
Birthplace Kerala, India
Date of death 7 July, 1995
Died Place New Delhi, India
Nationality India

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 1947. He is a member of famous Businessman with the age 48 years old group.

Rajan Pillai Height, Weight & Measurements

At 48 years old, Rajan Pillai height not available right now. We will update Rajan Pillai's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Rajan Pillai's Wife?

His wife is Neena Pillai

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Neena Pillai
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Rajan Pillai Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Rajan Pillai worth at the age of 48 years old? Rajan Pillai’s income source is mostly from being a successful Businessman. He is from India. We have estimated Rajan Pillai's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Businessman

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Timeline

1947

Rajan Pillai was born in Kerala, India in 1947, the son of a trader in cashews.

Early in his career, he invested in a five-star hotel project in Goa.

1970

In the mid-1970s, Rajan Pillai set up his base in Singapore with 20th Century Foods packaging potato chips and peanuts.

He collaborated with Canadian businessman F. Ross Johnson, head of the giant American food corporation Standard Brands.

1984

In 1984, Johnson sent him to London to head the newly acquired Nabisco Commodities.

Soon after, Johnson took over the Asian subsidiaries of Huntley & Palmer, the British biscuit manufacturing company which controlled Britannia Industries, India's largest bakery and biscuit-making concern, and handed its entire area of operation in Asia to Pillai.

Pillai became known in India as the 'Biscuit King' or 'Biscuit Baron'.

He took over Nabisco's other Asian subsidiaries.

1989

Pillai then established links with Boussois-Souchon-Neuvesel (BSN), the French food company, and by 1989 controlled six Asian companies worth over US$400 million.

Even though he claimed to own Britannia Industries, he actually controlled only 3 per cent of its equity; the rest of his businesses were a complex interwoven and interdependent financial mesh.

1993

In 1993, owing to debt, Pillai began selling off his companies to financial institutions.

The Wadia Group acquired a stake in Associated Biscuits International (ABIL), and became an equal partner with Groupe Danone in Britannia Industries Limited.

In what The Economic Times referred to as one of India's most dramatic corporate sagas,

Pillai ceded control to Wadia and Danone after a bitter boardroom struggle.

Pillai's mentor, Johnson, demanded the return of US$30 million which he had advanced Pillai to buy Britannia.

Singapore's Commercial Affairs Department, which was investigating Pillai's business deals, completed its investigation in March 1993 and charged Pillai on 22 counts of breach of trust and fraud and running up a debt of US$17.2 million.

1995

Rajan Pillai (1947 – 7 July 1995) was an Indian businessman from Kerala, popularly known as the Biscuit Baron.

He was to be sentenced to a possible 14-year imprisonment on 23 counts of breach of trust and one of cheating-by the Singapore courts, but died in custody four days after his arrest, largely because he was denied medical treatment while in custody; the subsequent investigations led to jail reforms.

As a court prepared to pronounce a 14-year prison term on him, Pillai fled his Singapore base to India in 1995.

In his home state Kerala, he obtained bail and a stay against his extradition to Singapore, despite an Interpol red alert for his arrest.

On 4 July 1995, Indian police seized him in a pre-dawn raid at New Delhi's five-star Le Méridien Hotel, and took him to Tihar Jail.

Pillai appealed for medical treatment, and the judge wrote to the resident medical officer (RMO) of the jail enquiring about Rajan's ailment.

However, there was no response to the appeal, and Pillai died the next day in custody from complications from liver cirrhosis.

At the time of his death, he was awaiting an extradition hearing.

Pillai's widow, Nina Pillai, alleged that a conspiracy was behind the death of her husband in the jail.

She urged the court to direct a CBI probe on the conspiracy angle as she feared foul play in the death of her husband.

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) had ordered a CBI inquiry based on the petition.

The medical officer who conducted the autopsy, deposed before the CMM, and said that Pillai had died of asphyxia caused by blocking of blood in the respiratory system.

The Justice Leila Seth Commission under Leila Seth was constituted to enquire into the conspiracy angle of his custodial death, but did not find any conclusive evidence.

The Commission had issued advertisements in the newspapers seeking public help in the matter.

Nina Pillai said she would provide evidence about the conspiracy angle, but later she refused to name the conspirator.

The Commission concluded that 'ways and means must be found to ensure that competent doctors were posted in the jail'.

The Commission also suggested that the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules be followed, and a prisoner should be allowed to be treated by his own doctor.

Following the submission of its report, there were systemic changes at the Tihar Jail, with a 24-hour attendance by doctors.

There were 75 doctors on call compared to the previous 16, and initial medical check up was made imperative.

Nina Pillai filed another petition seeking compensation for her husband's death.

2011

In May 2011, the Delhi High Court noted that there was lack of communication between jail authorities and the magistrate who refused to give Pillai specialist treatment.

The Court held the State liable for lapses which led to Pillai's death, and awarded a token compensation of ₹1 million to his wife and children.

2012

In March 2012, Nina Pillai filed a petition again alleging that the Court's directions on jail reforms and handling of ailing prisoners, given on her earlier plea, were never implemented.

The High Court sought a reply from the Delhi government on the plea and listed the matter for further hearing on 31 May 2012.