Nusli Wadia slams notice to Tata Group Companies alleging defamation

Mumbai: Industrialist Nusli Wadia who is an independent director on some Tata group companies has served a defamation notice on Tata Sons board on Monday. Wadia has asked Tata sons to withdraw ' False, defamatory and libellous' allegations against him. The notice sent by Wadia stated," These allegations are baseless, false, defamatory and libellous, and have been made with the intention of harming my reputation."

Tata Sons said," The company will respond to the notice appropriately".

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The Tata group companies have called Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) to remove Wadia, who is an independent director on some companies of the group, from their boards for allegedly siding with expelled chairman Cyrus Mistry.

The notice sent by Wadia has asked Tata Sons to desist from the move or face legal actions.

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What else Wadia stated in notice:

• Tata's move to remove me from the boards of Indian Hotels, Tata chemicals, Tata motors and Tata steels is an attempts to tarnish my personal integrity and corporate image.
• The move would lower my image in front of the esteemed colleagues on board of Tata Steel, and its public shareholders, who you claim will benefit from my removal.
• I demand that you withdraw these allegations forthwith .

I may be mentioned that Wadia was a childhood friend of Rata Tata and was appointed by him when he was the group chairman. The Tata Group Companies had decided to remove him from the boards of Indian Hotels, Tata Chemicals, Tata Motors and Tata Steel earlier this month, fearing he is out to cause harm to the $103 billion group. The group also accused Wadia of trying to take control of some of these companies.

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