The battle between ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry and the Tata group is intensifying further with allegations and counter allegations from both sides.
Dragged into the battle is former TCS Managing Director and CEO FC Kohli, who is also known as the father of Indian IT industry, issued a statement saying Cyrus Mistry’s allegation that Ratan Tata brought a proposal to sell TCS to IBM was incorrect.
“I was actively involved in the decision to bring IBM to India. A joint venture for hardware manufacturing and support in India, Tata IBM, was set up in 1991-92. This joint venture was undertaken to promote a computer hardware industry in India which was non-existent at that time. I would like to reiterate that at no point at that time was there ever an intention of the Tata Group to sell TCS to IBM,” Kohli, 92, said in a statement.
Mistry’s office on Tuesday had said that TCS had faced a near death experience at the hands of Ratan Tata.
Mistry said that Ratan Tata had brought a proposal to sell TCS to IBM but it was JRD Tata and Kohli who decided against it.
“JRD Tata refused to discuss the deal because FC Kohli was still recovering in the hospital from his setback. On his return, Kohli assured JRD that TCS had a bright future and that the group should not sell the company. JRD Tata turned down the offer, demonstrating true vision,” Mistry had said.
Clarifying his position, Kohli said “with reference to the timeline of the entire episode I would also like to point out that my “heart by-pass surgery” took place in 1984. JRD Tata was interested in my health and progress after the surgery and he established contact with my surgeon at Houston. He also wanted to know when I would be well enough to return to India. He wanted to discuss Burroughs proposal for software work in India under Tata Burroughs, which might affect TCS’ business.”