Mistry says was relegated to ‘lame duck’ chairman

In an explosive confidential email to Tata Sons board members, he accused them of replacing him as Chairman of India’s largest conglomerate of without so much as a word of explanation and without affording him an opportunity of defending himself “in a summary manner” that must be unique in the annals of corporate history.

“I was shocked beyond words at the happenings at the board meeting of October 24, 2016. Apart from the invalidity and illegality of the business that was conducted, I have to say that the Board of Directors has not covered itself with glory.

“To ‘replace’ your Chairman without so much as a word of explanation and without affording him an opportunity of defending himself, in a summary manner must be unique in the annals of corporate history,” he wrote in the email on October 25 which was circulated widely to the media today. Attempts to get a response from Tata Sons on Mistry’s charges failed.

Mistry said he was promised a free hand when he was appointed Chairman in December 2012 but Articles of Association were modified, changing the rules of engagement between the Tata family Trusts and the Board of Tata Sons.

Stating that he inherited problems, he went on to raise corporate governance issues alleging representatives of family trusts, which hold two-thirds of Tata Sons shares, were reduced to “mere postmen” as they left board meetings midway to “obtain instructions from Mr. Tata.”