Lord Swraj Paul, the prominent NRI industrialist, philanthropist, and founder of the UK-based Caparo Group, passed away in London at the age of 94, family sources confirmed.
Lord Paul had been hospitalised recently after falling ill and died surrounded by his family members.
Born in Jalandhar, India, Swraj Paul moved to the United Kingdom in the 1960s to seek medical treatment for his daughter Ambika, who was diagnosed with cancer. Following her tragic death at the age of four, he founded the Ambika Paul Foundation, a charitable trust that has since contributed millions towards education and child health initiatives.
“The London Zoo is where she was always the happiest,” Lord Paul had recalled last month during the annual commemoration at the Ambika Paul Children’s Zoo in London—one of the foundation’s major beneficiaries.
A member of the House of Lords, Lord Paul remained actively involved in public life well into his 90s, attending sessions despite his declining health. His legacy of philanthropy extended beyond his daughter’s memory. After the deaths of his son Angad Paul in 2015 and wife Aruna Paul in 2022, he initiated further charitable efforts in their names.
At the Indian Gymkhana Club in London in February 2023, Lord Paul inaugurated the Lady Aruna Swraj Paul Hall, saying, “This hall is a tribute to my wonderful wife whom I miss very much. We never had an argument during our 65 years of marriage.”
A regular fixture on the annual Sunday Times Rich List, Lord Paul was ranked 81st in 2025, with an estimated wealth of £2 billion, primarily from the steel and engineering giant Caparo Group. Headquartered in London, Caparo operates across over 40 global sites, with key operations in the UK, North America, India, and the Middle East.
His son, Akash Paul, currently serves as Chairman of Caparo India and Director of the Caparo Group. Last year, Lord Paul, as Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, awarded Akash an honorary doctorate in business administration. “Perhaps, I am the only graduate to get a degree from his own father, independently approved by the University Board, of course,” Akash remarked humorously at the ceremony.
A respected and active figure within the Indian diaspora in the UK, Lord Paul’s contributions spanned business, politics, and philanthropy.
“We pray for the departed soul. May the noble Lord rest in peace,” said Lord Rami Ranger, his fellow member in the House of Lords.