London: NRI (Non-Resident Industrialist) industrialists Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja have made it to the top 10 in the Sunday Times Rich List for Britain and Ireland and are placed at seventh position, closely followed by India-born steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal at 12th position.

Hinduja brothers, who were at 35th place with a fortune of 700 million Pounds last year, now have a wealth of 1,836 million Pounds, according to the List published on April 27.

The Hindujas, who are facing trial in the Bofors case in India, own the 400-million Pounds Gulf Oil Trading Company. Their Indian interests are doing equally well with a 200-million Pounds stake in Ashok Leyland automotive group, which has had its best year with revenues up by 33 per cent.

Shares in HTMT, their technology company, soared last year valuing their stake at 159 million Pounds. Their cable company ICML has trebled revenues after changes in India's regulatory regime. In total, the Hindujas have assets worth 1,366 million in India.

Lakshmi Mittal, 52, has climbed up 10 places with a personal wealth of 1,310 million Pounds and appeared 12th in the list. He was in 22nd place with a wealth of 900 million Pounds last year.

He owns the world's second biggest steel company. Mittal has a 77 per cent stake in the quoted steel operation ISPAT.

NRI industrialist Lord Swaraj Paul and family were at 302nd position with a 105 million Pounds worth, down from last year's 122nd position with $ 280 million Pounds.

The Jatania brothers, with interests in beauty products and property, were listed at 50th place with a fortune of 570 million Pounds, climbing two places up from last year.

The family originally came from India, but the brothers' entrepreneur father emigrated to Uganda in the 1930s, then moved the family to London in 1969.

Their Lornamead Group, a Dubai-based operation, owns a range of home and personal care brand. The company is worth at least 480 million Pounds and the Jatanias also have a significant portfolio of property investments.

PTI