WATCH: Shantanu Naidu quit just before Ratan Tata’s funeral, ‘had to explain his identity to Mumbai police’

Shantanu Naidu, the youngest managing director of Tata Trusts and a close confidant of late industrialist Ratan Tata, found himself in an unexpected situation on October 10 when he was stopped on his motorcycle by the Mumbai Police. The incident took place when Naidu was on his way to pay his last respects to Tata, who passed away at the age of 86 after a brief illness.

A video of the encounter quickly went viral on social media, with police officers questioning Naidu about his identity and destination. In the footage, Naidu calmly explained that he was on his way to observe the funeral procession. Earlier that morning, he was seen driving the truck that transported Tata’s body from the industrialist’s home.

The moment highlighted the deep bond between Naidu and Tata, who had been a mentor to him throughout his career. Naidu later shared his grief on social media, paying tribute to Tata with the heartfelt message: “Goodbye, my dear lighthouse”, and expressed his commitment to honoring Tata’s legacy.

During the funeral procession, Naidu rode ahead of the ambulance, accompanied by a police escort, as the hearse headed to the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) for public viewing. The funeral attracted widespread attention, with numerous dignitaries and public figures gathering to honor Tata’s notable contributions to philanthropy and innovation.

Shantanu Naidu’s journey with Tata began in May 2022 when Ratan Tata hired the 29-year-old. Naidu first gained public recognition when a video of him celebrating Tata’s birthday resonated with fans across the country.

Besides his role at Tata Trusts, Naidu is also known for his innovative ideas. While working at Tata Elxsi, he addressed the problem of dog deaths due to road accidents and developed a concept for “dog collars” designed to improve visibility at night, thus improving safety for pets on the road.