Cyrus Mistry, former chairman of Tata Sons, died in a road accident near Mumbai on Sunday. According to reports, the accident took place in Maharashtra's Palghar when the car hit a road divider killing Mistry and another passenger. Two others, including the driver, were injured and have been shifted to a hospital in Gujarat.
Mistry, 54, was travelling from Ahmedabad to Mumbai in a Mercedes car, police said.
Video of the car after the accident, being shared on social media, shows the anterior part of the vehicle completely mangled.
According to reports, Mistry was traveling with Darius Pandole, who was an independent director in Tata group firms, his two relatives--Jehangir Pandole and Anahita Pandole. Anahita was reportedly driving the car.
Condolences pour in
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed Mistry's death as shocking and said his death is a "big loss to the world of commerce and industry". "The untimely demise of Shri Cyrus Mistry is shocking. He was a promising business leader who believed in India's economic prowess. His passing away is a big loss to the world of commerce and industry. Condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace," Modi wrote in a tweet.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran expressed sadness over Mistry's death. "I am deeply saddened by the sudden and untimely demise of #CyrusMistry. He had a passion for life, and it is really tragic that he passed away at such a young age. My deepest condolences and prayers for his family in these difficult times," Chandrasekaran said.
Condoling Mistry's death, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that he was seen in the industry as a "young, bright and visionary personality". "Shocked to hear about the passing away of former Tata Sons chief Cyrus Mistry. He was not only a successful entrepreneur but also was seen in the industry as a young, bright & visionary personality. It's a great loss... My heartfelt tribute," Shinde said.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said Mistry's contributions to India's economic progress will always be remembered. "Deeply anguished & shocked by the sudden passing away of Cyrus Mistry. Indian industry has lost one of its shining stars whose contributions to India's economic progress will always be remembered," Goyal said in a tweet.
Mistry's Tryst With Tatas
Mistry, the younger son of late Pallonji Mistry, served as the sixth chairman of Tata Group from 2012 to 2016. He was ousted from the post in October 2016 following the board of Tata Sons' vote to remove Mistry after offering him an opportunity to resign voluntarily. Darius Pandole had opposed Mistry's removal from the post and had left the group with Mistry.
Mistry had joined the Tata group in 2006 as a director and was only the second from outside the Tata family to become the chairman of the group.
Mistry was restored as the chairman in December 2019 after the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) said the appointment of Chandrasekaran as executive chairman was illegal. The NCLAT order was stayed by the Supreme Court in January 2020 to which Mistry had filed a cross-appeal in the court.
Before joining Tata, Mistry was the managing director of construction giant Shapoorji Pallonji Group, owned by his father Pallonji Mistry, where he joined as a director in 1991.
