The unsealing of Ratan Tata’s will has sent shockwaves through India’s business and social circles. While the will contained expected elements—generous philanthropic contributions, family considerations, and careful distributions—one name stood out: Mohini Mohan Dutta.

A Mysterious Beneficiary

Dutta, an entrepreneur from Jamshedpur, has reportedly been left over ₹500 crore, according to The Economic Times. His inclusion in the will has raised curiosity, as Tata, who passed away in October 2024, was known for his privacy regarding personal affairs.

A Bond Forged in Jamshedpur

Dutta, now in his 80s, first met Ratan Tata in the early 1960s at the Dealers’ Hostel in Jamshedpur, where Tata was a 24-year-old navigating his early career. That meeting proved to be life-changing for Dutta.

“We first met in Jamshedpur at the Dealers’ Hostel when Ratan Tata was 24. He helped me out and really built me up,” Dutta revealed during Tata’s funeral in October 2024.

Dutta’s Business Ties with the Tata Group

Dutta’s professional journey remained closely linked with the Tata empire. After starting his career with the Taj Group, he founded Stallion Travel Agency, which later merged with Taj Services, a division of Taj Hotels, in 2013. Tata Industries held an 80% stake in the business before Tata Capital acquired and later sold it to Thomas Cook (India). Dutta continues to serve as a director at the rebranded TC Travel Services and holds shares in Tata Group companies, including Tata Capital, which is preparing for a public listing.

An Adopted Son?

Reports suggest that Dutta was more than just an associate—some even call him an adopted son. However, Tata’s will and codicil explicitly state that he never married or legally adopted children.

Dutta’s daughter also has deep ties to the Tata ecosystem, having worked with Tata Trusts for nearly a decade after beginning her career at Taj Hotels. Dutta was also among the select guests at Tata’s birth anniversary commemoration at Mumbai’s NCPA in December 2024.

A Controversial Inheritance

Dutta is entitled to one-third of Tata’s residual estate, which includes:

• Bank deposits exceeding ₹350 crore

• Proceeds from auctioning Tata’s personal belongings, such as paintings and watches

The remaining two-thirds of the residual estate will go to Tata’s half-sisters, Shireen Jejeebhoy and Deanna Jejeebhoy, who, along with Tata Trusts trustees Darius Khambata and Mehli Mistry, serve as the executors of the will.

Notably absent from the will are Tata’s half-brother, Noel Tata, and his children, while his other brother, Jimmy Tata, has been allocated ₹50 crore.

Discrepancies in Valuation

While the will specifies that Dutta’s share is one-third of the residual estate, The Economic Times reports that Dutta expects his inheritance to be worth ₹650 crore—a figure that does not align with the executors’ current estimates. These discrepancies have led to speculation and murmurs of discontent within Tata’s extended family and business circles.

Awaiting Legal Clarity

With the will now awaiting probate in Bombay High Court, questions continue to swirl around this unexpected bequest. Was Dutta simply a trusted associate and longtime friend, or was his role in Tata’s life far more significant than the public ever knew?

As legal proceedings unfold, the mystery of Mohini Mohan Dutta and his ₹500 crore inheritance is set to remain a topic of intense discussion in the corporate world.