Tata Sons’ ex-chairman, Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, passed away in a road accident today at Palghar, Mumbai. He was traveling in a Mercedes SUV from Ahmedabad to Mumbai when the accident happened.
According to Maharashtra police, the Mercedes he was traveling in rammed into a road divider. According to latest information, there was a total of four people in the car. According to latest reports, two died on the spot while the other two have been shifted to a nearby hospital.
Cyrus Mistry was the sixth chairman of the Tata Sons from 2012 to 2016. He succeeded Ratan Tata – but there were disagreements between the two, and Tata Sons’ board ousted him in 2016. He was fighting a court battle with Tata Group till 2021 when the courts ruled in Tata Sons’ favour in 2021. Cyrus Mistry hails from the famous Shapoorji Mistry family and has two sons. He was 54 years old.
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“The accident took place around 3.15 pm, when Mistry was travelling to Mumbai from Ahmedabad. The accident took place on a bridge over the Surya river. It seems an accident,” the police official told news agency PTI.
Deeply saddened to know about the unfortunate demise of Ex-Chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry Ji in a road accident near Palghar, Maharashtra.
Sincerest condolences to his family members.
May he Rest In Peace.
Om Shanti.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) September 4, 2022
A video of the Mercedes sedan that was taken after the accident shows the front end of the car destroyed, but the rest of the car seems largely intact. The front airbags of the car are also seen to have been deployed in the accident. There is no more information as of now as to how and why the car crashed into the divider, or how Cyrus Mistry was seriously injured in the accident.
Devastating News My Brother Cyrus Mistry passed away. Can’t believe it.
Rest in Peace Cyrus. pic.twitter.com/YEz7VDkWCY
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) September 4, 2022
It was under the leadership of Cyrus Mistry that Tata Motors began its turnaround with the predecessors of the current range of cars from the company. Tata Zest and Bolt were launched in his time. They began to change the perceptions about Tata Motors quality. Global NCAP awarded 4 stars to the Tata Zest in 2016 for adult occupant protection. Thus began the big Tata focus on automobile safety, and the reputation of the company has only strengthened in the period after he was ousted too, with many Tata cars receiving 4-star and 5-star safety ratings from Global NCAP.
India’s big business leaders and politicians have been expressing their shock and disbelief at the passing of Cyrus Mistry. NCP leader Supriya Sule and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed their condolences to the Mistry family. Union Minister Piyush Goyal also tweeted his condolences.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said that he was “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.”
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