Meet Mehli Mistry Who Will Inherit Ratan Tata's Prized Firearms

The three firearms — a pistol, shotgun, and rifle — were rarely used by Ratan Tata, despite him being one of India's earliest gun licence holders

Following the passing of business titan Ratan Tata, it has been revealed that Tata left several of his cherished possessions, including three valuable firearms and his Alibaug beachfront property, to his trusted confidant and longtime friend, Mehli Mistry, according to a report by The Times of India. The move underscores Tata's close bond with Mistry, a businessman who has been a loyal ally and supportive figure in Tata's later years.

Who Is Mehli Mistry?

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

Mistry, who earned 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, which began when the two were neighbours at the Bakhtawar building in Colaba, Mumbai. Their friendship endured through decades, even as Tata moved to his residence at Halekai after retiring as Tata Group chairman in 2012.

Tata's Three Firearms

According to the TOI report, the three firearms — a pistol, shotgun, and rifle — were rarely used by Tata, despite him being one of India's earliest gun licence holders. Sources told TOI these weapons were significant to Tata, not merely as possessions but as symbols of his connection to people closest to him.

Each firearm carries a unique legacy: 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 bequest from J.R.D. Tata, Tata Group's longest-serving chairman. In his will, Tata transferred these heirlooms to Mistry, who now faces the task of obtaining a firearms license to retain them legally.

Indian firearms regulations stipulate that licensed weapons 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 that Mistry is likely to register the firearms as ornamental, in which case police would deactivate the firing pins, rendering the weapons unusable.

In addition to the firearms, Tata’s iconic Alibaug property is also now under Mistry’s ownership. The inheritance highlights a unique personal chapter in Tata’s legacy, showcasing the value he placed in friendship and the transfer of his most prized possessions to someone he trusted implicitly.