Ousted Nusli Wadia files defamation case

MUMBAI: Industrialist Nusli Wadia has filed a criminal defamation complaint against Tata Sons, Ratan Tata and the board of directors of the Tata group, for hurting his reputation by making false allegations.

“The complaint is filed under sections of the Indian Penal Code for causing criminal defamation with common intention,” said Wadia’s lawyer Abad Ponda. “We have alleged that the contents of the notices were offending and questionedhisbonafides,” hesaid.

Inthecomplaintfiledbeforethe additionalchief metropolitanmag-

istrate, BallardPier, Wadiaalleged that, “the defamatory and offending contents of special notices (issued by Tata Sons for convening special shareholder meetings) have caused severe prejudice to the reputation and goodwill of the complainant as also affected his status as an independent director

not only in the Tata group companies, but as a director in various other companies; and will continue to have a cascading effect on the complainant’s reputation and goodwill in business circles within India and abroad.”

Tata Sons, in their notices for theEGMs,hadsaidWadiaisbeing sought to be removed for his collusion with ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry. Based on these notices, at the EGMs of Tata Steel and Tata Motors, shareholders voted Wadia out. Shareholders of Tata Chemicals are voting on Friday.