BPP boardroom fracas

The mounting tension between the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees erupted into a potentially violent incident in the apex trust's boardroom on May 12, 2015 with allegations that BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta attempted to attack co-trustee Yazdi Desai with a chair. Mehta denies the allegation and told Parsiana over the phone that he clutched the chair to steady his balance and prevent a fall. According to Mehta there was much "slanging and swearing,” rather than physicality. Desai informed Parsiana that Mehta came around to pick up a chair to assault him. According to emails/apps and text messages circulating, "BPP trustee, Jimmy Mistry and two Gamadia Hostel personnel stopped Mehta by physically holding and preventing him from hitting Yazdi.” Desai said "Mehta first picked up a glass to throw at me and (instead) threw a pencil then got up” and picked up a chair. "He is getting uncontrollable and physically dangerous… He is losing it.”

The conflagration occurred while the trustees were discussing the Gamadia Hostel, where there were differences of opinion over the continuation of the present caterer who is reportedly paying a sum of Rs 20,000 to the trust. Desai reportedly claimed the trust should get Rs 1,00,000.

"There was much shouting and screaming,” according to a party present at the meet during which Mehta alleged that Desai and his wife Anahita were "chors (thieves).” Desai retorted stating "taru khandan chor (your family are thieves).” That provocation led to the attempted altercation.