Who is Avtar Lit? Sunrise Radio founder and Chairman dies aged 73

The owner and chairman of Sunrise Radio Group, Avtar Singh Lit was a British businessman who lived from 7 April 1950 until 6 June 2023. He was recognized as one of the “20 most powerful Asians in British media” by AIM magazine in 2005, and it was reported that he had earned a substantial personal wealth. After losing five businesses that went into administration, he was declared bankrupt by the High Court in 2014.

Avtar Lit ran unsuccessfully as an Independent in the 2001 General Election for the Ealing Southall parliamentary seat. She received 12.3% of the vote, placing third out of nine candidates. In violation of section 90(2)(b) of the Broadcasting Act of 1990, Sunrise Radio broadcast excerpts from an interview with him before this. As a result, Sunrise Radio was fined $10,000 by the Radio Authority (now known as Ofcom).

Who is Avtar Lit? Sunrise Radio founder and Chairman dies aged 73

Avtar Lit, the 73-year-old founder of Sunrise Radio, a 24-hour independent commercial Asian radio station, has passed away.

Up until 1988, Sunrise Radio was a London-based pirate radio station called Sina Radio. On 5 November 1989, Sunrise Radio made its first authorized broadcast after Lit acquired control of the station. In the UK, it is now the top commercial Asian radio station.