Ex-MD Ashneer Grover apologises for ‘defamatory’ posts against BharatPe; HC orders to pay Rs 2 lakh cost

The application was filed in the fintech company’s pending lawsuit seeking a “permanent injunction” restraining Grover and his family from making defamatory statements against the company, its directors, employees or printing the same in any medium or form.

Appearing for Grover, advocate Giriraj Subramanium at the outset handed over an affidavit with an undertaking stating that his client has apologised for the posts published on social media and has “undertaken not to post any such defamatory content in the future”.

Subramanian also said that the posts on X (formerly Twitter) posted by Grover had been taken down.

Justice Palli perused through the affidavit noting that Grover had now specifically undertaken not to post any such defamatory posts in future and is also apologising for his past behaviour. The court, however, observed that it is “appalled” to notice the “persistent blatant” violation of the HC’s orders by Grover.

“This court is inclined to close the matter at this stage by binding the defendant no. 2 (Grover) to his undertaking. This would be, however, subject to payment of cost of Rs 2 Lakh to be paid to Delhi High Court Clerks Association with the direction to the association that the amount will be used only for the welfare of the families of those clerks who have lost their lives due to Covid,” the HC said.

Appearing for the company, senior advocate Akhil Sibal said that despite a specific order of the HC on May 16 directing the counsels for the parties to advise their clients to “avoid recourse to unparliamentary and defamatory publication against each other” Grover had proceeded to publish defamatory posts compelling his client to approach the HC by way of an earlier application.

He submitted that this earlier plea was heard on May 26 where Grover had undertaken to “voluntarily” delete/remove the offending posts.

As per the May 26 order, the counsels for the parties submitted that their respective clients “in future will abide” by the May 16 order.

Sibal contended that Grover is “blatantly violating the assurances” given to the HC and prayed that he be restrained from publishing any unparliamentary and defamatory posts on social media. The main lawsuit is now listed on December 13.