MAM Ramaswamy, the third-generation patriarch of the Chettinad group, announced that he has completely disowned his adopted son MAMR Muthiah.

Muthiah, who now heads the diversified business interests of the ₹4,000-crore Chettinad Group, has ‘betrayed the trust’ that he had reposed in him, Ramaswamy said.

He has managed to corner stake in various companies including the flagship Chettinad Cements, but he will not be entitled to any of the remaining assets including the Chettinad Palace, set in a 125-acre river-front property in the heart of Chennai, Ramaswamy, popularly known as MAM, said.

The feud between father and son has been on for a couple of years now and culminated last year in MAM being voted out of the chairmanship of Chettinad Cements in which Muthiah has a 75 per cent stake.

At a press conference MAM addressed along with AC Muthiah, his first cousin and industrialist, whom he described as a well wisher, he said there was no question of reconciliation irrespective of the position of the law on adoption.

AC Muthiah said the traditional adoption process has been annulled ritually in the temple where it was first held.

MAM said he has formed two charitable trusts to which his own assets will be transferred.

The 84-year-old MAM said he had erred in adopting Muthiah flouting the traditional norms of their community.

MAM said his father ‘Rajah’ Sir Muthiah Chettiar had said in a will that his wealth would only go to a grandson adopted following community traditions.

The feud between father and son turned violent last month when a quarrel broke out between their employees within the palace and police had to intervene. Each blamed the other of employing henchmen.

MAM said that his workers were victims but were being blamed for the violence.

He also refuted Muthiah’s allegation last week at a press conference that MAM was being incited by relatives and associates to break ties with him.

“Blood is thicker than water,” MAM said explaining that his cousin sitting next to him and well wishers were giving him moral support to conserve the last of his wealth.

“I am absolutely free and on my own volition I am saying whatever I feel is right,” he said.

Muthiah had said at the press conference that he has continuously tried to resolve the feud through well wishers and elders in the community.

His concern, he had said, was that his octogenarian father was not in a position to control the day-to-day running of the group’s businesses and that he was being influenced by people with ulterior motive.

comment COMMENT NOW