BharatPe Vs Ashneer Grover: Ex MD Apologises For Defamatory Posts, Fined INR 2 Lakh

BharatPe’s former managing director and cofounder Ashneer Grover has apologised to the Delhi High Court but was fined INR 2 Lakh for his defamatory social media posts against the fintech unicorn.

In May this year, the HC had ordered both Grover and BharatPe to refrain from using ‘unparliamentary’ and ‘defamatory’ language against each other. A few days later, Grover also claimed that he removed all such social media posts against BharatPe, abiding by the court’s order.

However, BharatPe filed an application in its pending suit later on showing some of his social media posts earlier this month where he again made ‘defamatory’ remarks against the company. In fact, the HC was also told that Grover was a habitual offender who repeatedly violated the court’s orders.

As per a Bar and Bench report, advocate Giriraj Subramanium appearing for Grover told the HC on Tuesday (November 28) that he had tendered an apology and had given an undertaking that he would not do anything in violation of the court’s orders.

Subramanium pointed out that Grover has also taken down his tweets.

Meanwhile, senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for BharatPe, noted that Grover’s social media posts were already picked up by the media causing damage by the time he deleted the tweets.

Reportedly, Justice Rekha Palli observed that Grover’s conduct was ‘appalling’. He has been slapped with a fine of INR 2 Lakh for the violation of the HC’s previous order.

It is pertinent to note that Grover also shared “confidential information” related to BharatPe recently on X (formerly Twitter), which made the company file a fresh case in the Delhi HC seeking an injunction against him.

As per the latest report, currently, there are about 15 proceedings pending between BharatPe and Grover. BharatPe already registered a civil suit at the HC against Grover and his family members for alleged embezzlement of funds, seeking up to INR 88.67 Cr in damages.

In December last year, the fintech unicorn filed a criminal complaint with the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Grover and his family.

In its investigation into the matter, the EOW has recently found fraudulent transactions amounting to over INR 81 Cr made by Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain.