Hinduja brothers bid for UK print empire

London, October 15: The Hindujas are reported to be trying to buy a British group of newspapers which include the tabloids the Daily Express and Sunday Express and the Daily Star. According to The Sunday Times, the Hindujas are expected to make an offer of around 100 million pounds for the papers and the associated printing press. If successful, they will be Britain’s first South Asian press barons.

The paper suggests, however, that the move by brothers Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja is “likely to prove controversial because of the prospect that they may be charged with corruption in India”. The brothers who last year became British citizens insist there is no case against them. They are reported to have said that in case the CBI issues a chargesheet against them they will go to India voluntarily to participate in the legal process, sparing British Home Minister Jack Straw the need to rule on their extradition.

The Express group of UK was traditionally supportive of the Conservative Party. However, like the Hindujas, who switched their support from the Conservatives to New Labour during the last election, the paper, currently owned by the Labour peer Lord Hollick became Labour-friendly as the balance of power in Britain shifted.

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PTI adds from London that the Times report was confirmed by Gopichand Hinduja.

Daily Express has a circulation of one million copies, Daily Star has 540,000 copies and Sunday Express has 950,000.

According to Times, Hindujas’ bid pitches them against David and Frederick Barclay, billionaire owners of The Scotman and Sunday Business.