Tata Sons seeks to oust ex-chairman Mistry from Tata Motors' board

By Aditi Shah and Abhirup Roy

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Tata Sons has called an extraordinary shareholder meeting at Tata Motors Ltd, in its latest attempt to drive out former chairman Cyrus Mistry from all parts of the $100 billion steel-to-software conglomerate.

Tata Sons ousted Mistry last month, sparking a bitter war of words that has escalated into an attempt by the holding company to push Mistry out of related businesses.

On Thursday, Tata Sons removed Mistry as chairman of its main cash cow, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where the holding company has a stake of more than 70 percent.

However, it has faced setbacks, as the boards of Indian Hotels and Tata Chemicals have both backed Mistry to remain as chairman of those group companies.

Tata Motors, which owns luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover, said on Friday Tata Sons had called an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to vote on ousting Mistry and independent director Nusli Wadia from the automaker's board.

Tata Sons has a 26.51 percent stake in Tata Motors.

Lawyers have said removing Mistry as director of Tata group companies will be a bigger challenge than ousting him as Tata Sons chairman because he will have the right to be heard at an EGM and can also ask for an injunction.

All shareholders are invited to the EGM and the decision will be made by a simple majority.

"This sort of a move is very unprecedented. I don't know why the Tatas are doing it this way. They should be settling this instead of dragging this in public. Mistry has a lot of insider information," a senior lawyer at a top corporate law firm in India said on condition of anonymity.

Details of Tata Motors' EGM are yet to be finalised.

Mistry's office did not respond to a request for comment.

(Additional reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Rafael Nam and Mark Potter)