Leela hotels founder C.P. Krishnan Nair dead

Mumbai, May 17 (IANS) Capt. C.P. Krishnan Nair, a war veteran and founder of the Leela Group of hotels, passed away Saturday morning following a brief illness, an official said here.

Capt. Nair, 82, is survived by his wife and sons, including Vivek, who heads the 28-year-old hotels chain with eight prime properties across the country.

According to the hotel official, Capt. Nair, as he was known in professional and military circles, breathed his last around 3.30 a.m. at Hinduja Hospital here, where he was admitted recently.

The funeral ceremony will be performed Sunday at the Vile Parle crematorium in Mumbai.