Ratan Tata’s recently opened will has raised eyebrows as a non-family, but close associate has gained ₹500 crore inheritance from the late, beloved industrialist, according to a report by the Economics Times.

Mohini Mohan Datta, who hails from Jamshedpur and was the co-owner of Stallion travel agency, which later became a part of Taj Group of Hotels under the Taj Services arm. He was not known by many, but close to Ratan Tata. He has been bequeathed over ₹500 crore in residual assets, as per the report.

According to the ET report, Dutta and his family owned 80 per cent stake in Stallion, which was merged with Taj Services in 2013. Tata Industries owned the remaining 20 per cent stake in Stallion. Besides this, Dutta was also a director of TC Travel Services (formerly associated with Thomas Cook) and was known to be in Ratan Tata’s closest circles, which included family members, the report said citing insiders.

It citied insiders say that at Tata’s funeral in October 2024, Dutta told mediapeople he met Ratan Tata when the industrialist was 24 at the Dealers’ Hotel in Jamshedpur and had known each other for 60 years since. Datta was also reportedly invited to Ratan Tata’s Birth Anniversary celebrations at the NCPA in December 2024.