Mehli Mistry, a long-time confidant of the late Ratan Tata and executor of his will, has been voted out of his position as a lifelong trustee of Tata Trusts. The move marks a significant turning point for one of India’s most powerful philanthropic organisations, which collectively controls about 66% of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group.
The decision to deny Mistry’s reappointment came after a split vote among the trustees. Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, along with Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh, opposed his reappointment, while Darius Khambata, Jehangir HC Jehangir, and Pramit Jhaveri voted in his favour.
Since Mistry could not vote on a resolution concerning himself, the 3-2 vote outcome effectively ended his tenure on October 28, 2025, as a trustee.
Mistry’s exit follows months of internal disagreements over governance and transparency between Tata Trusts and Tata Sons. Those who opposed his reappointment reportedly cited “disruptive” behaviour and alleged “intimidation” during meetings, claims Mistry has strongly refuted, saying, “These statements are false and motivated,” ET quoted him as saying.
Mistry argued that the Trust’s actions contradict the 2021 Supreme Court directive, which required Tata Sons to share key information with the charitable body.
If Mistry challenges the decision, his case would likely fall under the jurisdiction of the Maharashtra Charity Commissioner or the Bombay High Court.
Mistry's departure is likely to solidify Noel Tata's leadership within the Trust, which has been dealing with factional divisions since Ratan Tata's retirement. Noel now has a definitive majority in decision-making with the support of Srinivasan and Singh.
In contrast, Mistry, who is Cyrus Mistry's first cousin, was once regarded as the guardian of Ratan Tata's legacy. He even suggested the name of Noel be put forward for the position of chairman after Ratan Tata's passing in 2024, which indicated that earlier unity has now been fractured.
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The latest development comes amid sensitive discussions on Tata Sons’ potential public listing, a step that has been said to be against Mehli Mistry's opinion but appreciated by other trustees.
This power shift could change the governance structure of the conglomerate, as the group seeks to balance expansion while also facing stricter regulatory oversight.
While the Trust is grappling with its internal differences, the exit of Mehli Mistry highlights a major change in the Tata’s charitable structure, a change that may yet lead to another Tata vs Mistry showdown, similar to the one that had a significant impact on the corporate landscape almost a decade ago.