Meet Mehli Mistry, who will inherit Ratan Tata’s prized firearms

After the death of business titan Ratan Tata, it was revealed that Tata left several of his prized possessions, including three valuable firearms and his Alibaug beachfront property, to his trusted confidant and long-time friend Mehli Mistry, according to a report by The Times. of India. The move underscores Tata’s close connection with Mistry, a businessman who has been a loyal ally and support figure in Tata’s later years.

Who is Mehli Mistry?

Mehli Mistry is a businessman and former close associate of Ratan Tata. He is a first cousin of the late Cyrus Mistry, but was particularly supportive of Tata, especially during Cyrus Mistry’s ouster as chairman of Tata Sons in 2016. Mehli also looked after Tata in his later years.

Mistry, who won a position on the boards of Tata’s two key philanthropic entities – the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust – has long shared a bond with Tata that began when the two were neighbors at the building Bakhtawar of Colaba, Mumbai. Their friendship spanned decades, even as Tata moved to his Halekai residence after retiring as Tata Group chairman in 2012.

Dad’s three firearms

According to the TOI report, the three firearms – a pistol, rifle and shotgun – were rarely used by Tata, despite the fact that he was one of the first arms license holders in India. Sources told TOI that these weapons were significant to Tata, not just as possessions, but as symbols of his connection to the people closest to him.

Each firearm carries a unique heritage: one was a gift from the late Sumant Moolgaokar, former chairman of Tata Motors and an avid hunter; another belonged to Tata’s father, Naval Tata; and the third was a legacy from JRD Tata, the longest serving chairman of the Tata Group. In his will, Tata transferred these heirlooms to Mistry, who now faces the task of obtaining a firearms license to legally keep them.

Indian firearms regulations stipulate that licensed firearms must serve clear purposes such as self-defence, sporting or ornamental use, with a limit on the number of firearms allowed per individual. Sources suggest Mistry is likely to register the firearms as ornamental, in which case the police would disable the strikers, rendering the weapons unusable.

Apart from firearms, Tata’s flagship property Alibaug is now owned by Mistry. Legacy highlights a unique personal chapter in Tata’s legacy, highlighting the value he placed on friendship and the transfer of his most treasured possessions to someone he trusted implicitly.