Tata Group Row: The controversy is deepening in Tata Trusts, the largest shareholder and charity organization of Tata Group. In fact, former trustee Mehli Mistry has alleged serious illegalities in the administration of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) and has demanded the appointment of an administrator to run the trust.

While filing a complaint with the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner, he has said that everything in the trust is not being run in a transparent manner. He alleges that the current senior members of the trust are working against the rules. Mistry questioned the validity of the Board of Trustees and argued that the appointments made in recent times were made in violation of Section 30A of the Maharashtra Public Trust Act 1950. The Board of Trustees now includes Noel Tata (Chairman), Venu Srinivasan (Vice Chairman), Vijay Singh, Darius Khambatta, Bhaskar Bhat and Neville Tata.

What is the matter?

In November last year, Mehli Mistry had resigned as trustee from Tata Trusts. His reappointment was proposed after his three-year term as trustee of the trust ended on October 28, 2025, but three board members – Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh – voted against it. After this, in his resignation letter, Mistry had said that he did not want to bring the reputation of Tata Trusts into any public controversy.

However, after stepping down from the post, he alleged in a letter to the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner that under a resolution of October 2024, all the trustees have the right to hold the post for life. In such a situation, their removal is illegal. After his removal, Bhaskar Bhat and Neville Tata were appointed in his place.

However, earlier this month Mistry had filed an objection with the Charity Commissioner, questioning the presence of Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh as trustees of the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution. The basis for this he stated was that he is not a Parsi nor a resident of Mumbai, as is required in the trust deed.

What do the mechanics want?

Mistry wants the current board of the trust to be removed and an independent administrator to be appointed, who will impartially investigate and run the trust. Some trustees also believe that due to this internal conflict the image of the trust is being tarnished. In such a situation, the government should include one or two impartial members in the board so that there is transparency in the board meetings.

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