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Delhi High Court orders Ashneer Grover to take down allegations against BharatPe and its Chairman


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The Delhi High Court has issued an order to Ashneer Grover, co-founder and former managing director of BharatPe, to take down fresh allegations made by him against the fintech firm and its board chairman, Rajnish Kumar. The court also directed The Economic Times to remove two articles that revealed the content of letters written by Grover to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Additionally, the court ordered the removal of all other news reports based on Grover’s letters. The court further restrained Grover from making any more defamatory allegations against BharatPe, and stated that any such allegations made on social media platforms should be taken down within 48 hours.

Background of the Case

The court’s order was passed in response to a fresh application filed by BharatPe in an ongoing case against Grover and his wife, Madhuri Jain Grover. BharatPe argued that Grover had violated the court’s injunction orders and his own undertaking not to make defamatory allegations against the company. The fintech firm claimed that Grover had written two letters to the RBI containing defamatory and disparaging comments about BharatPe, which were widely reported in the media.

The first letter alleged that BharatPe had defrauded the central bank by bringing back Bhavik Koladiya, who had been convicted of wire fraud in the US, after obtaining licenses. The second letter accused Rajnish Kumar of allocating equity shares worth hundreds of crores to himself since joining the company. BharatPe contended that these allegations were false and were being raised by Grover to divert attention from his own wrongdoings.

Court’s Observations and Warning to Grover

After considering the allegations, Justice Prathiba M Singh stated that Grover should not violate the court’s orders and his own undertaking. The court emphasized that Grover should not publicly harm the reputation of the company and should instead resolve any disputes through proper channels. The court also expressed strong displeasure with Grover’s tweet referring to all State Bank of India (SBI) Chairmen as “petty”. The court considered this tweet to be in violation of the court order and Grover’s undertaking.

Arguments and Rejection of Grover’s Defense

During the proceedings, Grover’s lawyer argued that Grover had not leaked the letters to the press and that the reports were published based on source information. The lawyer claimed that there was a corporate war between the two sides and the media was interested in it, hence publishing source-based information against Grover. However, the court rejected this argument and stated that it may summon The Economic Times to inquire about how they obtained Grover’s letter.

BharatPe’s Lawsuit and Damages Claim

BharatPe has filed a lawsuit against Grover and his wife, seeking to restrain them from making defamatory allegations against the fintech firm. The company has claimed damages of over ₹88.67 crore from Grover, his wife, and his brother under various heads. BharatPe has also filed applications seeking details of Grover and his family’s bank accounts and properties owned by them.

Conclusion

The Delhi High Court’s recent order instructing Ashneer Grover to remove fresh allegations against BharatPe and Rajnish Kumar, as well as the directive to remove related news reports, highlights the ongoing legal battle between the parties. The court has emphasized the importance of maintaining proper conduct and decorum, and has warned Grover against violating the court’s orders and his own undertaking. The case continues to unfold, with BharatPe seeking damages and further legal action against Grover and his family.

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