Latest news with #British-educated
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Billionaire friend of Prince William dies after collapsing during polo match
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A close friend of Prince William and avid polo player Sunjay Kapur has tragically died following a mid-match incident where he reportedly swallowed a bee, leading to a suspected fatal heart attack. The 53-year-old Indian billionaire and chairman of automotive giant Sona Comstar, collapsed while playing polo in England yesterday. Shortly before his death, the British-educated tycoon expressed his condolences over the distressing Air India crash in Ahmedabad. In a poignant final message, Sunjay said: "Terrible news of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected. May they find strength in this difficult hour." Prior to his passing, Sunjay was known for his passion for polo and his high-profile romances. His marriage to Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor ended on a sour note, as she later alleged neglect during their child's illness for a polo match. Reflecting on her relationship with Sunjay, Karisma said: "(Sunjay) decided to carry on, leaving me behind to take care of our sick four-month-old son, just to play a polo match with Prince William. I also realised that he had married me only because I was a famous and successful film star, which would facilitate him to be reported in the press. "It came as a surprise that he always wanted to be known in public and be famous, but since he never did any deed worth mentioning, he was not able to garner any attention." Sunjay was fatally stung by a bee while playing polo, which is thought to have caused anaphylactic shock leading to cardiac arrest, reports the Mirror. Although the official cause of death remains under investigation, initial reports indicate that the sting might have prompted a severe allergic response, causing his abrupt collapse. Sunjay's death has sent shockwaves through elite British polo circles and India's high society. As a familiar figure in Royal polo events, Sunjay was reportedly on good terms with royalty and the high-ranking members of the polo community, participating in exclusive summer matches in the UK. An insider shared the poignant reflection: "He was full of life, laughing, joking, then gone in an instant," when recalling Sunjay's final moments. Coming from a family of prestigious business lineage, Sunjay steered Sona Comstar into a notable player in the global automotive tech industry, extending its reach across India, the USA, Serbia, Mexico, and China. During his time at the business, he propelled the company to prominence as a supplier to the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market. Not limited to his role as Sona Comstar's chairman, Sunjay also occupied significant positions within the automotive industry, including President of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and Co-Chair of the Confederation of Indian Industry's Manufacturing Council. Sunjay was a pupil of The Doon School, often dubbed India's Eton. He further honed his business acumen at the University of Buckingham and later at Harvard Business School through an executive programme. (Image: UK Press via Getty Images) Despite carving a niche in the business realm, Sunjay was familiar with the glitz of celebrity life, having been married to actress Karisma Kapoor and sharing two children with her, as well as tying the knot with Priya Sachdev, an ex-model turned fashion mogul. As word of his untimely passing spread, the corporate sector began to mourn. Sona Comstar expressed their condolences, stating: "We are deeply saddened by the sudden demise of our Chairman, Mr Sunjay Kapur. He was a visionary leader whose passion, insight, and dedication shaped the identity and success of our company." His peers in the industry have lauded his zeal for innovation and manufacturing prowess. A former colleague remembered him as "a titan of Indian industry, taken far too soon." A friend of the Kapur family shared: "Sunjay was in excellent health. No one could believe what had happened. It's a shocking reminder of how fragile life can be."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Billionaire friend of Prince William dies after swallowing bee while playing polo
Sunjay Kapur, 53, is a well-known Indian billionaire and chairman of global car parts giant Sona Comstar. A friend of Prince William has died after reportedly swallowing a bee while playing polo, triggering a fatal heart attack. Sunjay Kapur is a well-known Indian billionaire and chairman of global car parts giant Sona Comstar. As reported by the Mirror, the 53-year-old collapsed while playing polo in England on Thursday. The British-educated businessman had paid a moving tribute to those killed in the Air India tragedy just hours before his death. In his final post, he wrote: "Terrible news of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected. May they find strength in this difficult hour.' Kapur was well known for his love of polo and his high-profile marriages. He was once married to Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, however the marriage ended in acrimony. She later filed a domestic violence plea, stating he once went off to play polo while their son was very ill. Kapoor said: '(Sunjay) decided to carry on, leaving me behind to take care of our sick four-month-old son, just to play a Polo match with Prince William. I also realised that he had married me only because I was a famous and successful film star, which would facilitate him to be reported in the press. It came as a surprise that he always wanted to be known in public and be famous, but since he never did any deed worth mentioning, he was not able to garner any attention.' It is understood the bee stung Kapur in his mouth while playing polo, potentially triggering anaphylactic shock that caused his heart to stop. Medical experts say internal stings can be deadly, especially if the person has an undiagnosed allergy. A sting to the throat or airway can cause swelling, airway blockage, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and cardiac arrest. The exact cause of death is still being investigated, but early reports suggest it may have triggered a massive allergic reaction, leading to his sudden collapse. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through both Britain's polo circles and India's high society. A regular on the royal polo circuit, Kapur was known to be friendly with the royals and other members of the aristocratic polo set. He often played in exclusive matches held across the UK during the summer season. "He was full of life, laughing, joking, then gone in an instant," said one insider. Born into business royalty, he was the driving force behind Sona Comstar, a global automotive technology firm with operations spanning India, the US, Serbia, Mexico and China. Under his leadership, the company became a key supplier to the booming electric vehicle sector. He served not only as chairman of Sona Comstar but also held top industry positions, including President of the Automotive. Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and Co-Chair of the Confederation of Indian Industry's Manufacturing Council. Educated at The Doon School, India's answer to Eton, Kapur later studied business at the University of Buckingham, before completing a prestigious executive programme at Harvard Business School. Despite his business success, he was no stranger to the celebrity spotlight. As well as being married to Kapoor, with whom he had two children, he also married Priya Sachdev, a former model and fashion entrepreneur. As news of his death spread, tributes poured in from across the business world. In a statement, Sona Comstar said: 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden demise of our Chairman, Mr Sunjay Kapur. He was a visionary leader whose passion, insight and dedication shaped the identity and success of our company.' Industry colleagues also praised his commitment to innovation and manufacturing excellence. One former associate called him 'a titan of Indian industry, taken far too soon.' A source close to the Kapur family said: 'Sunjay was in excellent health. No one could believe what had happened. It's a shocking reminder of how fragile life can be.'
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Billionaire pal of Prince William dies after swallowing bee during game of polo
A polo-playing pal of Prince William has died after reportedly swallowing a bee mid-match, triggering a fatal heart attack. Sunjay Kapur, 53, a well-known Indian billionaire and chairman of global car parts giant Sona Comstar, collapsed while playing polo in England on Thursday. Hours before his death, the British-educated businessman had paid a moving tribute to those killed in the Air India tragedy. In his final post, he wrote: "Terrible news of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected. May they find strength in this difficult hour.' Before his death, Kapur was well known for his love of polo and his high-profile marriages. He was once married to Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, however the marriage ended in acrimony. She later filed a domestic violence plea, stating he once went off to play polo while their son was very ill. Kapoor said: '(Sunjay) decided to carry on, leaving me behind to take care of our sick four-month-old son, just to play a Polo match with Prince William. I also realised that he had married me only because I was a famous and successful film star, which would facilitate him to be reported in the press. It came as a surprise that he always wanted to be known in public and be famous, but since he never did any deed worth mentioning, he was not able to garner any attention.' While playing polo, it is understood the bee stung Kapur in his mouth, potentially triggering anaphylactic shock that caused his heart to stop. Medical experts say internal stings can be deadly, especially if the person has an undiagnosed allergy. A sting to the throat or airway can cause swelling, airway blockage, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and cardiac arrest. The exact cause of death is still being investigated, but early reports suggest it may have triggered a massive allergic reaction, leading to his sudden collapse. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through both Britain's polo circles and India's high society. A regular on the royal polo circuit, Kapur was known to be friendly with the royals and other members of the aristocratic polo set. He often played in exclusive matches held across the UK during the summer season. "He was full of life, laughing, joking, then gone in an instant," said one insider. Born into business royalty, he was the driving force behind Sona Comstar, a global automotive technology firm with operations spanning India, the US, Serbia, Mexico and China. Under his leadership, the company became a key supplier to the booming electric vehicle sector. He served not only as chairman of Sona Comstar but also held top industry positions, including President of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and Co-Chair of the Confederation of Indian Industry's Manufacturing Council. Educated at The Doon School, India's answer to Eton, Kapur later studied business at the University of Buckingham, before completing a prestigious executive programme at Harvard Business School. Despite his business success, he was no stranger to the celebrity spotlight. As well as being married to Kapoor, with whom he had two children, he also married Priya Sachdev, a former model and fashion entrepreneur. As news of his death spread, tributes poured in from across the business world. In a statement, Sona Comstar said: 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden demise of our Chairman, Mr Sunjay Kapur. He was a visionary leader whose passion, insight and dedication shaped the identity and success of our company.'
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince William's billionaire pal dies after swallowing bee while playing polo
Prince William's polo-playing pal Sunjay Kapur, a well-known Indian billionaire and chairman of global car parts giant Sona Comstar, collapsed while playing a match in the UK A polo-playing pal of Prince William has died after reportedly swallowing a bee mid-match, triggering a fatal heart attack. Sunjay Kapur, 53, a well-known Indian billionaire and chairman of global car parts giant Sona Comstar, collapsed while playing polo in England on Thursday. Hours before his death, the British-educated businessman had paid a moving tribute to those killed in the Air India tragedy. In his final post, he wrote: "Terrible news of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected. May they find strength in this difficult hour.' Before his death, Kapur was well known for his love of polo and his high-profile marriages. He was once married to Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, however the marriage ended in acrimony. She later filed a domestic violence plea, stating he once went off to play polo while their son was very ill. Kapoor said: '(Sunjay) decided to carry on, leaving me behind to take care of our sick four-month-old son, just to play a Polo match with Prince William. I also realised that he had married me only because I was a famous and successful film star, which would facilitate him to be reported in the press. It came as a surprise that he always wanted to be known in public and be famous, but since he never did any deed worth mentioning, he was not able to garner any attention.' While playing polo, it is understood the bee stung Kapur in his mouth, potentially triggering anaphylactic shock that caused his heart to stop. Medical experts say internal stings can be deadly, especially if the person has an undiagnosed allergy. A sting to the throat or airway can cause swelling, airway blockage, a sudden drop in blood pressure, and cardiac arrest. The exact cause of death is still being investigated, but early reports suggest it may have triggered a massive allergic reaction, leading to his sudden collapse. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through both Britain's polo circles and India's high society. A regular on the royal polo circuit, Kapur was known to be friendly with the royals and other members of the aristocratic polo set. He often played in exclusive matches held across the UK during the summer season. "He was full of life, laughing, joking, then gone in an instant," said one insider. Born into business royalty, he was the driving force behind Sona Comstar, a global automotive technology firm with operations spanning India, the US, Serbia, Mexico and China. Under his leadership, the company became a key supplier to the booming electric vehicle sector. He served not only as chairman of Sona Comstar but also held top industry positions, including President of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and Co-Chair of the Confederation of Indian Industry's Manufacturing Council. Educated at The Doon School, India's answer to Eton, Kapur later studied business at the University of Buckingham, before completing a prestigious executive programme at Harvard Business School. Despite his business success, he was no stranger to the celebrity spotlight. As well as being married to Kapoor, with whom he had two children, he also married Priya Sachdev, a former model and fashion entrepreneur. As news of his death spread, tributes poured in from across the business world. In a statement, Sona Comstar said: 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden demise of our Chairman, Mr Sunjay Kapur. He was a visionary leader whose passion, insight and dedication shaped the identity and success of our company.' Industry colleagues also praised his commitment to innovation and manufacturing excellence. One former associate called him 'a titan of Indian industry, taken far too soon.' A source close to the Kapur family said: 'Sunjay was in excellent health. No one could believe what had happened. It's a shocking reminder of how fragile life can be.'
Middle East Eye
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
India: Outrage after Cambridge-educated Muslim academic arrested over online posts
Outrage has erupted in India after a Muslim professor was arrested over a social media post which praised India's military operations against Pakistan while criticising attacks on Indian Muslims. Ali Khan Mahmudabad, 42, is a British-educated associate professor of political science at Ashoka University. He studied at Winchester College, a boarding school in England, and earned a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 2014. Mahmudabad was arrested on Sunday in New Delhi after a complaint was filed against him by a youth leader of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rights groups and prominent commentators have erupted in outrage. Aakar Patel, the chair of Amnesty International India, said: "Mahmudabad is in jail not because of what he wrote but because he's Muslim." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The academic was arrested under sections of the criminal code which pertain to acts prejudicial to maintaining communal harmony, the incitement of armed rebellion or subversive activities and insulting religious beliefs. After the ceasefire: What lies ahead for India and Pakistan? Read More » Ashoka University's faculty association released a statement condemning his arrest on what it called "groundless and untenable charges". The university itself issued a statement distancing itself from the academic's social media posts. But more than 1,000 academics have signed a letter of support for Mahmudabad, including prominent historians Romila Thapar and Ramachandra Guha. The Print, a major Indian news outlet, said that the "vicious hounding and egregious arrest" of Mahmudabad was a "shameful insult to our millenia-old democratic tradition". 'Vicious hounding and egregious arrest' Mahmudabad, who born in 1982, hails from north Indian nobility. His grandfather, Mohammed Amir Ahmed Khan, was a prominent nobleman and leader of the All India Muslim League before the partition of the subcontinent. Mahmudabad himself was a national spokesperson of the left-wing Samajwadi Party from 2019 to 2022. In a Facebook post on 8 May, Mahmudabad had responded to a press conference given by Colonel Sofiya Qureishi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, two spokeswomen for the Indian Armed Forces, on India's military operation against Pakistan. 'Mahmudabad is in jail not because of what he wrote but because he's Muslim' - Aakar Patel, Amnesty International India "I am very happy to see so many right wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophia Qureishi," Mahmudabad said, "but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the BJP's hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens." Qureishi, an Indian Muslim, was widely praised in the Indian press. Mahmudabad argued that "the press conference was just a fleeting glimpse – an illusion and allusion perhaps – to an India that defied the logic on which Pakistan was built." He added that "the grassroots reality that common Muslims face is different from what the government tried to show but at the same time the press conference shows that an India, united in its diversity, is not completely dead as an idea." He also criticised the Pakistani military, saying it "has used militarised non-state actors to destabilise the region for far too long while also claiming to be victims on the international stage." 'Utterly condemnable' India's most prominent Muslim politician, Asaduddin Owaisi, slammed the arrest as "utterly condemnable", noting that "a mere complaint by a BJP worker" provoked the police to take action. Internet personality Ramesh Srivats, who has nearly 4m followers on social media platform X, remarked that he could see no issue with Mahmudabad's post. "Maybe these days, even long sentences can lead to long sentences." The arrest came days after the state of Haryana Women's Commission claimed on Monday that Mahmudabad's statement "disparaged women officers in the Indian Armed Forces and promoted communal disharmony" and summoned him. Mahmudabad responded that "there is nothing remotely misogynistic about my comments that could be construed as anti-women". After the ceasefire: What lies ahead for India and Pakistan? Read More » On Wednesday 7 May, India launched a deadly attack on Pakistani territory on Wednesday morning, which Pakistan said killed at least 36 people, including civilians. India said Pakistani shelling killed at least 16 people, civilians among them, in Indian-controlled Kashmir. After that came nearly four days of intense aerial incursions and shelling between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, until US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the two countries had come to a ceasefire. Conflict over the divided former princely state of Kashmir has caused three wars between India and Pakistan. Both countries accuse the other of occupying the region. India currently claims the region as "integral" to its sovereignty, while Pakistan calls for a plebiscite - including in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir - to give Kashmiris the right to self-determination.
