Minister asked for Rs 15 crores as bribe: Ratan Tata

DEHRADUN - Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata on Monday made an astonishing disclosure that a Union Minister had asked his company for a bribe of Rs 15 crores when he was in the process of setting up a domestic airline.

Ratan Tata, however, did not name the Minister and said the incident took place around 10-12 years ago.

“We approached three Prime Ministers also. But an individual thwarted our efforts to form the airlines. Later one businessman told me that you are stupid people. The Minister was asking for a Rs 15 crore bribe,” NDTV quoted him, as saying.

Tata Group Chairman further stressed that he has not changed his mind about retiring as Chairman of the Tata Group in 2012.

“I don’t want to change my deadline I set for my retirement. There are lots of sacrifices, one has to make in terms of personal life. I wanted my life back. I want to enjoy the things that I wanted to do,” he said.

Earlier in August, the Board of Tata Sons Ltd formed a selection committee comprising five members, including an external member for eventually deciding on Ratan Tata’s alternate.

“There is no such thing as an indispensable individual. The day I succeeded JRD Tata, I felt I had to fill very large shoes. I knew that I cannot be another JRD and I have to be my own person,” said Tata.

“I believe my successor will be his own person and hopefully will do things for the country and the group the way we have been doing till now or much better. I ferociously want to ensure that my successor has total commitment for ethics and values,” he added. (ANI)