Who is Jimmy Naval Tata? Meet Ratan Tata's reclusive brother who stayed away from Mehli Mistry mega vote

Jimmy Tata (in blue shirt ) also owns 3,262 shares of Tata Sons, valued in crores, and continues as an SRTT trustee under the terms of his father Naval Tata's will. (AFP file photo)

Jimmy Naval Tata's absence from a key Tata Trusts meeting to decide on Mehli Mistry's reappointment as a lifetime trustee has sparked quiet attention. A Times of India report states that the 85-year-old younger brother of the late Ratan Tata, and a trustee of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, chose not to attend the meeting held on Tuesday - a decision viewed as significant given the trust's system of unanimous voting.

At Sir Ratan Tata Trust, all resolutions require the consent of every trustee, meaning a single abstention or dissent can halt a proposal. Against this backdrop, Jimmy's decision to stay away carried considerable weight. Although he holds key roles at SRTT and across the broader Tata Trusts, he is known to rarely take part in board discussions or formal votes. In contrast, resolutions at the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) are passed by a simple majority.

When asked by The Times of India about the meeting, Mistry's reappointment, and reports of internal divisions, Jimmy declined to comment. Official records from SRTT and SDTT confirmed that he "did not attend" the October 17, 2024, meeting where trustee reappointments and other major matters were decided.

Currently based in Pune, Jimmy is said to keep a close watch on developments within the Tata Group, particularly Tata Trusts and Tata Sons. His last public appearance was at Ratan Tata's funeral in Mumbai on October 11, 2024.

In his will, Ratan Tata left Jimmy his share in the family's Juhu property, along with select jewellery and silver artefacts. Jimmy also owns 3,262 shares of Tata Sons, valued in crores, and continues as an SRTT trustee under the terms of his father Naval Tata's will.

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The second child of Naval Tata and his first wife, Sooni Commissariat, Jimmy has long maintained a low profile. In 2023, Ratan Tata shared a childhood photo of the two brothers from 1945 on Instagram, captioned, "Those were happy days. Nothing came between us. (1945 with my brother Jimmy)."

Reports portray Jimmy as a private individual who avoids modern gadgets, does not use a mobile phone, and prefers reading books and newspapers to stay updated on world events. According to The Times of India, he resides on the sixth floor of Hampton Court in Colaba.

Industrialist Harsh Goenka once described him, in a 2022 post, as someone leading a simple life, detached from business affairs, and a surprisingly skilled squash player who often beat Goenka in their matches.