Delhi HC imposes Rs. 2 lakh fine on co-founder Ashneer Grover for defamatory posts on BharatPe

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today imposed Rs. 2 lakhs fine on BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover for his defamatory remarks against the company, which is his former employer.

Grover has been directed to pay the amount to the Delhi High Court Clerks Association by a bench of Justice Rekha Palli.

The Court termed Grover's conduct "appalling" as it had directed the company and Grover not to use "defamatory", "unparliamentary language" against each other in May 2023 as well. However, Grover violated the Court's order by making defamatory posts against the company earlier this month.

On his part, Grover has tendered an apology for his behaviour.

After Grover's violation of the Court order, the company BharatPe filed an application in its pending suit, stating that Grover is a habitual offender who has been violating the Courts orders repeatedly.

Grover has given an undertaking to not do anything in violation of the Courts orders further, and informed Court that he has taken down his posts on 'X' (formerly Twitter) as well.

However, BharatPe's counsel argued that by the time he deleted his posts, the harm to their reputation was already caused as the posts were picked up by the media.

While Grover suggested mediation between the company and himself, the company has squarely rejected the same.