BharatPe Fraud: Delhi HC Allows Ashneer Grover, Wife Madhuri To Travel To Doha, UK On Conditions

The Delhi High Court has agreed to the petition of BharatPe cofounder and former managing director Ashneer Grover and his wife Madhuri Grover Jain, former HR executive at the payments firm, seeking permission to travel abroad to Doha and the UK, subject to certain conditions.

The husband-wife duo, who have lookout circulars issued against them, have been permitted to travel abroad together from September 28 to October 7, on the condition that they submit original share certificates and original title deeds of their properties.

The court of Justice Sanjeev Narula observed that the petitioners had appeared before the investigating agency whenever summoned.

The Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police objected to the travel plea, raising serious apprehension that if Ashneer and his wife Madhuri travelled abroad together, they may not come back.

However, the lawyer representing Grover argued before the court that while Ashneer will attend a personal meeting abroad, his family will remain in India, and therefore, “there is no possibility to abscond.”

“I made a startup and my entire life is on hold,” he added.

Grover and his wife Madhuri moved the Delhi High Court earlier this month, challenging the lookout circulars issued against them by the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police for alleged misappropriation of funds worth INR 81 Cr at the payments firm.

In a plea filed with the Delhi High Court, the husband-wife duo also sought permission to travel abroad together to the UK and UAE in September and October. 

Justice Narula then sought a status report from the Delhi Police and listed the matter for hearing on September 17.

It is pertinent to note that the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing lodged a complaint against Grover, his wife Madhuri and other family members in 2022 for allegedly committing fraud of INR 81 Cr at BharatPe.

Currently, Grover and Jain are under investigation over allegations of fraud that came to light in late 2023. They are accused of embezzling funds from BharatPe and making payments to allegedly fake HR consultancies.

In light of allegations of fraud, the EOW has issued a look out circular against the husband-wife duo that bans them from leaving the country without the court’s permission.

In May this year, the Delhi HC granted permission to the couple to travel abroad to the US, on the condition that their spouse stays back in India while one of them is travelling, and asked them to furnish an INR 80 Cr security deposit.

Further, Justice Subramonium Prasad then directed the husband-wife duo to surrender their Emirates Card to prevent them from fleeing to the UAE, given they are golden visa-holders.

In August, the Delhi HC appointed an arbitrator to address the ongoing legal dispute between BharatPe and Ashneer. Meanwhile, vendor Amit Kumar Bansal, who was arrested by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing last month in connection with the alleged INR 81 Cr fraud at BharatPe, has been denied bail.