Radhe Shyam Agarwal
Radhe Shyam Agarwal | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 18, 1946 Kolkata, India |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Known for | Co-founder and executive chairman of Emami |
Radhe Shyam Agarwal, also referred to as R S Agarwal, is a prominent Indian businessman and the co-founder as well as executive chairman of Emami, a multinational conglomerate with interests spanning FMCG, paper manufacturing, real estate, edible oils, healthcare, and cement industries. He ranks among India's wealthiest individuals and was featured by Forbes in 2015 with an estimated net worth of $1.43 billion.
Early life
Radhe Shyam Agarwal was born on 18 February 1946 in Kolkata into a Marwari family. He pursued his higher education at St. Xavier's College, completing degrees in law (LLB) and commerce (M.Com) from Calcutta University. Additionally, he holds professional qualifications as a Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary. In 1970, he commenced his career at the Aditya Birla Group where he served as vice president.
Emami
In 1974, Agarwal partnered with his schoolmate Radhe Shyam Goenka to establish the cosmetics firm Emami, initially funded by a $2,600 loan from Goenka's father. Since its inception, Emami has expanded into a global enterprise generating revenues over $1.3 billion. The company is known for products such as "He," "Fair and Handsome," and "Navratan Hair Oil."
Associations
Radhe Agarwal holds the positions of Joint Chairman and Director within Emami group companies, serves as Executive Director of Emami, and is also a Director at Zandu Realty. His past roles include serving as a Director at the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and acting as Trustee for the Merchant Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Family
He is married to Usha Bansal and has three children: two sons, Aditya and Harsh Agarwal, along with a daughter, Priti Agarwal Sureka. The family actively participates in the management of the Emami group and resides in Southern Avenue, Kolkata. Priti is married to Raj Sureka.
Criminal charges
A tragic fire broke out on 9 December 2011 at AMRI Hospital in Kolkata, resulting in the deaths of 92 individuals, mostly critically ill patients. Following the incident, the hospital's license was revoked the next day, accompanied by a judicial inquiry initiated by the West Bengal Chief Minister. Investigations indicated that the fire originated due to flammable chemicals being stored improperly; rescue operations were obstructed by narrow access routes, locked emergency exits, and malfunctioning alarms and sprinkler systems.
Seven members of the hospital’s board—including founders Agarwal and Goenka—were arrested on charges of negligent homicide. By July 2016, a total of sixteen people were formally charged under Indian Penal Code Section 304 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment; additional charges included attempted culpable homicide along with combined acts or omissions.
This event was recorded as the most severe hospital disaster in India at that time.