Venu Srinivasan, the veteran industrialist and chairman emeritus of TVS Motor, has deepened a governance dispute within Tata Trusts by backing N. Chandrasekaran’s reappointment as chairman of Tata Sons on September 17. Despite a directive from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust instructing him to vote against the reappointment, Srinivasan supported Chandrasekaran and also endorsed Tata Sons’ listing plan, intensifying the boardroom row in Mumbai.
Four directors voted in favor of both decisions, while Noel Tata opposed them, placing Srinivasan at the center of the conflict. Fresh filings have now linked TVS Motor to a warehousing venture involving Chandrasekaran’s family, raising additional scrutiny over governance and disclosure practices.
Who Is Venu Srinivasan?
Srinivasan, 73, is a fourth-generation member of the TVS family founded by T. V. Sundaram Iyengar. He studied engineering at the College of Engineering, Guindy, and completed management studies at Purdue University. Under his leadership, TVS Motor grew into a major two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer in India. His emphasis on quality management earned the company’s brakes business the prestigious Deming Prize in 1998.
In 2020, Srinivasan received the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to industry and public life. He joined the Reserve Bank of India’s Central Board as a non-official director in 2022. In 2025, he stepped away from daily operations at TVS Motor, handing executive leadership to his son Sudarshan Venu. He now serves as chairman emeritus of TVS Motor and non-executive chairman of TVS Holdings.
Role at Tata Sons and Trusts
Srinivasan has been a director on the Tata Sons board since 2016, making him one of the longest-serving independent directors. He also holds senior positions within Tata Trusts, including vice-chairman of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust. Before the September 17 meeting, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust sought to restrain him from voting on Tata Sons’ listing. Srinivasan rejected the instruction, arguing that his duties as a director required him to act in the best interests of Tata Sons, not the Trusts.
Tata Trusts later challenged Chandrasekaran’s reappointment, calling the decision a ‘legal nullity.’ The dispute has escalated, with the Trusts questioning the validity of the board’s actions.
Scrutiny Over Hanno One Warehousing Deal
The latest scrutiny involves Hanno One Warehousing, a company where Chandrasekaran’s wife Lalitha and son Pranav serve as directors. In June 2025, TVS Motor leased 17 acres in Tamil Nadu to Hanno One for a warehouse project. HDFC Bank later offered Hanno One a Rs. 60 crore construction loan for the planned facility. Tata Trusts alleged that Srinivasan did not disclose the relationship between TVS Motor and the Chandrasekaran family to its trustees, adding another layer to the governance dispute.
The boardroom row continues to unfold, with implications for the future governance of both Tata Sons and Tata Trusts.