‘Maintain decorum’: Delhi HC to Ashneer Grover’s counsel over social media posts

The court was hearing a suit filed by BharatPe seeking orders to restrain Grover from making defamatory statements against the company

The Delhi high court on Monday asked former BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover to maintain decorum on social media in wake of his ouster from the fintech company and digital payment application.

Grover and his wife were removed from the company over allegations of misappropriation of funds. (File image)

“This social media has brought us down to this level. Ask him (Grover) to maintain decorum,” justice Navin Chawla said while hearing BharatPe’s lawsuit seeking to restrain Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain from posting anything defamatory against the company on social media.

Taking note of the submissions by senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar for BharatPe, where he contended that Grover is equating the legal profession to prostitutes, justice Chawla questioned Grover’s counsel about the relevance of making such remarks.

“Why are you saying all these things about these professions? Do these have any relevance? The moment you start saying something against these officers of the company, you are defaming the company, “ justice Chawla told the counsel appearing for Grover.

Nayyar had contended that even after filing of the lawsuit, Grover’s book was published in which he had equated the legal profession to that of a prostitute.

On Monday, senior counsel Nayyar for the fintech company contended that despite filing of the lawsuit, Grover is continuing to make defamatory statements against the company and its officials.

He contended that just because there is no interim order to restrain Grover, he cannot be allowed to make any comment he wants.

“Even after filing of the suit, he (Grover) is saying things which I can’t even repeat in court..., “ Nayyar said while also producing a book written by Grover.

He said that the book was published after the company had filed the lawsuit.

Countering the submissions, Grover’s counsel Giriraj S told the high court that despite being the largest shareholder in the company, his client was stopped from attending the annual general meeting (AGM).

He also contended that while the suit has been filed by the company, Grover has not made any comments about it.

“The plaintiff here is company, the allegations in the suit are by the officers of the company. I have not said anything against the company, “ Grover’s counsel said.

The high court issued notice on an application by Grover and his wife seeking access to their official email ids.

The judge also granted three more weeks to Grover and other defendants to file their response to the interim application in the lawsuit and posted the matter for further hearing on March 13.

“Issue notice on defendants’ application to the plaintiff. Notice accepted. Three more weeks time granted to the defendants to file their responses to the interim application. Written statements to be filed in response to the main suit as well,” the court said in an oral order.

Grover and his wife were removed from the company over allegations of misappropriation of funds.

Grover had also lost the arbitration proceedings initiated by him before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), leading to the sacking.

Alleging that Grover, his wife and others have been making defamatory statements about the company on social media, BharatPe in its lawsuit, has sought a direction to delete/remove all statements, tweets, social media posts, books, re-tweets, hashtags, videos, press conferences, interviews, comments made against the company.

The company has also sought damages of over ₹88.67 crore from Grover, his wife and his brother for various losses due to their misappropriation of funds.

On the last date, the court had issued summons to Grover and asked him to respond to BharatPe’s lawsuit.