Both Tata Group companies and Cyrus Mistry are sharpening their knives ahead of the crucial extraordinary general meetings (EGM) next month.

While Tata companies have begun informal meetings with independent directors and institutional investors who are shareholders, the Mistry camp is sourcing information from individual companies to arm the ousted chairman with facts to defend his case.

According to sources close to the Tata camp, the focus is on communicating the Tatas’ position on Mistry to independent directors ahead of the next board meeting of Tata Sons.

The last meeting of Tata Sons was held on November 17 but there was no discussion on Mistry, who continues to be a Director. “The next board meeting is likely to have Mistry’s removal on the agenda; hence the independent directors are important. Tata Sons will not want to be caught offguard after what happened at Indian Hotels, where the independent directors came out supporting Mistry,” said a source close to the Tata camp.

Mistry, on the other hand, may write to various Tata companies, seeking details of various deals over the past 10 years. TCS will be the first one to hold EGM — on December 13 — to seek shareholders’ approval to remove Mistry. Tata Motors’ is on December 22, Indian Hotels’ on December 20 and Tata Chemicals on December 23.

Meanwhile, the battle between Nusli Wadia and Tata Group companies is set to escalate.

Wadia had sent notices to three Tata companies, asking them to withdraw the notice issued to remove him as Director. He had given the Tata companies two days to reply, failing which he would take legal action.

According to sources close to the Tata camp, there is no move to withdraw the notices. “The Tata companies will respond suitably. There is no chance of a withdrawal of the notices issued on Wadia,” said a source.

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