Maldives speedboat accident: Who is Hari Singh, the rally champion on board with Gautam Singhania

Uncertainty continues around the fate of veteran rally driver Hari Singh, days after a speedboat accident in the Maldives that also involved industrialist Gautam Singhania.

While some reports have begun suggesting Singh may not have survived, there has been no official confirmation so far.

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The incident has left India’s motorsport community on edge.

Who is Hari Singh? A pioneer of Indian rallying

Hari Singh is widely regarded as one of India’s most accomplished rally drivers. A multiple-time national champion and winner of the first Asia Zone Rally Championship, he made his mark in the 1990s with his aggressive yet precise driving style.

He picked up multiple national titles and also won the first Asia Zone Rally Championship, but those who followed the sport remember him just as much for how he drove as for what he won. Behind the wheel of the Maruti Gypsy, he earned the nickname “Gypsy King”.

Singh later worked with JK Tyre Motorsport. He also worked as chief instructor with Mercedes-Benz India, guiding younger drivers and sharing what he had learnt the hard way. Many in the circuit say a lot of today’s talent carries a bit of his influence.

Originally from Chandigarh, he spent years honing his skills in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. The tough terrain became his training ground and, in many ways, defined his style.

Who is Gautam Singhania?

Gautam Singhania is best known as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Raymond Group, one of India’s oldest and most recognisable textile companies, with brands like Park Avenue, ColorPlus, Parx, and Ethnix.

But outside the boardroom, he has long been associated with fast machines – cars, planes, even yachts. He founded the Super Car Club of India and is often seen as someone who lives that high-performance lifestyle, not just talks about it.

Singhania was among those on board the speedboat that capsized near Fulidhoo in the Maldives. He sustained minor injuries and has since returned to Mumbai, where he is recovering.

What we know about the accident so far

The speedboat carrying seven people, including Indian nationals and foreign tourists, overturned in rough conditions off the Maldives coast on March 19.

Two people, including Hari Singh and the boat’s captain Mahesh Ramchandran, remain missing. Search teams have been scanning the area, with concerns that they may be trapped near coral formations underwater.

Officials have not ruled out any possibility, but no final confirmation has been issued.