The Tata Group, one of India’s most iconic conglomerates, is once again witnessing a major internal shake-up. Nearly a decade after Cyrus Mistry’s dramatic ouster in 2016, another Mistry—Mehli Mistry, a long-time confidant of the late Ratan Tata—is now being removed from the Tata Trusts. His tenure at the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) has not been extended, signaling a fresh wave of internal restructuring within Tata Sons’ key holding entities.
According to reports, Tata Trusts CEO Siddharth Sharma recently proposed a three-year extension for Mehli Mistry’s term. Trustees Darius Khambatta, Pramit Jhaveri, and Jehangir Jehangir backed the proposal. However, Chairman Noel Tata, Vice Chairman Venu Srinivasan, and Trustee Vijay Singh opposed it. Their dissent effectively ended Mehli Mistry’s tenure at the Trusts, marking a significant shift in the trust’s internal power dynamics.
Interestingly, the decision comes in the month of October, the same month when Cyrus Mistry, Mehli’s cousin, was removed as Chairman of Tata Sons in 2016—a move that triggered a long legal and corporate battle. Both Mistrys belong to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, which holds an 18.37% stake in Tata Sons. This coincidence has once again made October a month of turbulence for the Tata Group.
The Tata Trusts, which collectively hold 66% ownership in Tata Sons, play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Tata empire. Of this, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust together control around 51%, giving them significant decision-making authority over Tata Sons’ leadership and strategy.
Mehli Mistry, promoter of the M. Pallonji Group of Companies, has diverse business interests spanning industrial painting, dredging, shipping, and automobile dealerships. His firms have had close business ties with several Tata Group companies, and he has also served as a trustee of Breach Candy Hospital Trust. Known for his long-standing personal rapport with Ratan Tata, Mehli was often seen as a trusted insider in the group’s inner circle.
However, his removal has reignited discussions about internal disagreements within the Trusts. Sources suggest that some senior Tata Group executives have recently met with Union ministers, hinting at deeper strategic and governance-level realignments.
