Tony Jesudasan, a key lieutenant of Anil Ambani’s Reliance group and a high profile corporate communications and corporate affairs professional, died early on Monday morning. He was 71.

Earlier this month, Jesudasan had suffered a heart attack while on a flight from Bhopal, sources said.

He was rushed to Fortis Hospital on arrival in Delhi, where he underwent angioplasty. He was then shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon. He continued to be in critical care till his passing away at around 5 am on Monday, they said.

He is survived by wife Parul Sharma and daughter Preetika.

Jesudasan, or TJ as he was referred to by friends, turned 71 while he was at Fortis.

He was group president for corporate communications and corporate affairs of R-ADAG.

An MBA from FMS, Delhi, Jesudasan worked at the US embassy when he was invited by Dhirubhai Ambani to join the then undivided Reliance group in 1990.