MUMBAI: The late industrialist Ratan Tata ensured the well-being of his domestic staff and office employees by leaving nearly ₹3.5 crore for them in his will. His generosity extended to car cleaners, peons, and even a neighbor, as he also waived off various loans.
Tata, who passed away in October 2024, directed that ₹15 lakh from his estate be distributed among domestic staff who had served him for over seven years, based on their years of service. Part-time helpers and car cleaners were also set to receive ₹1 lakh each.
In a further act of generosity, Tata left:
- ₹1.02 crore to his long-time cook, Rajan Shaw, which included a loan waiver of ₹51 lakh.
- ₹66 lakh to his butler, Subbaiah Konar, including a loan waiver of ₹36 lakh.
- ₹10 lakh to his secretary, Delnaz Gilder.
- ₹1.5 lakh to his driver, Raju Leon, along with an ₹18-lakh loan waiver.
- ₹5 lakh to Tata Trusts consultant Hoshi D Malesara.
- ₹2 lakh to his Alibaug bungalow caretaker, Devendar Katamollu.
- ₹1.5 lakh to his personal assistant, Deepti Divakaran.
- ₹50,000 each to peons Gopal Singh and Pandurang Gurav.
- ₹2-lakh loan waiver for helper Sarfaraz Deshmukh.
In his will, dated February 23, 2022, Tata explicitly instructed that loans given to Shaw, Konar, and Leon be considered as bequests and not recovered from his estate.
His love for animals was also reflected in his will, with ₹12 lakh allocated for the care of his German Shepherd, Tito, to be disbursed at ₹30,000 per quarter. Tito remains under the care of Rajan Shaw.
Tata also waived a ₹23.7-lakh loan given to his neighbor, Jake Malite, for his MBA at Warwick Business School in the UK. Malite, now based in Switzerland, was last known to be working with aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
Among other major beneficiaries:
- One-third of his residual estate (excluding shares and properties) was bequeathed to ex-Taj employee Mohini Dutta.
- His Seychelles land (worth ₹85 lakh) was left to RNT Associates, a Singapore-based fund.
- His two half-sisters, Shireen Jejeebhoy and Deanna Jejeebhoy, will each receive one-third of his residual estate.
- His Alibaug bungalow was gifted to his friend, Mehli Mistry.
- Tata Trusts trustee Darius Khambata is among the executors of his will, alongside Jejeebhoy sisters and Mistry. Each executor will receive ₹5 lakh as a token of appreciation.
Tata also ensured that all funeral and obsequial expenses were covered by his estate, which amounted to just ₹2,500, as per the executors.
Additionally, his wardrobe—including luxury brands like Daks, Polo, Brooks Brothers, Brioni suits, and Hermès ties—was designated for donation to NGOs for distribution among the underprivileged.
