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The East India Company established the British rule in India and ruled the Indian subcontinent and other major parts of the world for nearly centuries expanding the British Empire to the point where its was said that the sun never sets upon it. But what happened to the East India Company following disintegration of the British Empire after the second world war? Who is the current owner of this once world-conquering trading company? Let us delve into these interesting questions and find out more: When was the East India Company established? The East India Company was established in England on December 31 1600 AD as a trading company under a special charter from the British Crown which gave it extraordinary powers and privileges to establish the crowns dominance in other parts of the world especially in India and East Asia. Initially the company established trade relations with Indian rulers but gradually used its growing military and political influence to capture territory culminating in the Battle of Plassey on June 23 1757 which led to the establishment of British dominance in Bengal and laid the foundation for company eventual control over all of India. What happened to British East India Company after Indias independence? After the Battle of Plassey the British East India Company rapidly increased military presence across India gaining complete control over vast swathes of territory. However its policies of oppression led to a growing sentiment of independence among the native resulting in the 1857 revolution the first war of Indias independence. Following the 1857 revolution which was dubbed by the British as a sepoy mutiny the British Crown ended the British East India Companys rule and transferred the administration of India directly under the Queen of England. The British rule in India came to an end on August 15 1947 as the once-mighty British Empire and the British East India Company became a shadow of their former selves post World War 2. Notably the special charter which gave the rights to the East India Company was completely abolished by the British Crown in 1874. Who currently owns the East India Company? Ironically the current owner and CEO of the East India Company is an Indian the nation it ruled for nearly 200 years. Sanjiv Mehta an Indian-born British business tycoon. Mehta is currently the CEO of East India Company which now has business interests in the luxury goods sector selling gift hampers luxury tea coffee and other food items including several types of beverages as well as luxury homeware.