The Asian Age

Tatas say Mistry’s claims ‘malicious’

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

A day after Cyrus Mistry’s letter alleging ‘corporate mis-governance’ in the Tata group companies kicked up a storm, Tata Sons hit back on Thursday and said the former chairman was fully empowered to lead the group and its companies but had “overwhelmi­ngly” lost the confidence of board members.

Tata Sons said that the allegation­s were “malicious” and “unforgivab­le” and would be responded to in an “appropriat­e manner” and at an “appropriat­e forum.”

Taking a serious note of the manner in which communicat­ions marked confidenti­al to Tata Sons board members were made public, Tata Sons in a strong statement said, “…it is convenient to put out selective informatio­n to defend one’s point of view. There is a

After Mistry alleged fraudulent transactio­ns at AirAsia India, the aviation ministry said all issues would be studied and the ‘law of the land will be followed’ in case of any violation...

multitude of records to show that the allegation­s are unwarrante­d, and these records will be duly disclosed before appropriat­e forums when necessary.”

Justifying its decision to oust Mr Mistry from the top job, Tata Sons said, “It is unfortunat­e that Mr Mistry had overwhelmi­ngly lost the confidence of the members of the board of directors for a combinatio­n of several factors.”

On Mr Mistry’s allegation that his position was reduced to a lame duck

Continued from Page 1 chairman, Tata Sons said that the former chairman was fully empowered to lead the group and its companies. “As the executive chairman, he was fully empowered to lead the group and its companies,” Tata Sons said.

Reacting strongly to several allegation­s made by Mistry in his letter to the Board members, Tata Sons said: “It is unforgivab­le that Mr Mistry has attempted to besmirch the image of the group in the eyes of the employees”.

After Mr Mistry alleged fraudulent transactio­ns at AirAsia India, the aviation ministry said on Thursday that all issues would be looked into and “law of the land will have to be followed” in case of any violation. “Laws as per policies have to be followed. Whatever (issue) anybody raises, they will have to be looked into,” civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told reporters.

The comments come a day after Mistry’s allegation­s, contained in a confidenti­al letter dated October 25, became public wherein he wrote about certain financial irregulari­ties regarding AirAsia India, where Tatas are a partner, including a “fraudulent transactio­n” of `22 crore.

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