The BharatPe LinkedIn fight, starring CEO Suhail Sameer and Ashneer Grover. Viral screenshots
If Ekta Kapoor is running out of soap ideas, then she can perhaps look for inspiration from fintech start-up BharatPe.
That walk ???#Naagin6 #Naagin6WithTejasswiPrakash #TejasswiPrakash #TejaTroops pic.twitter.com/bfTPwpTs9V
— Nothing Serious (@skinny_naagin) April 3, 2022
In the latest, there’s a new war of words that broke out between the former staff of BharatPe, jilted and ousted co-founder of the company Ashneer Grover, Grover’s sister Aashima, Grover’s supporters and the CEO of BharatPe Suhail Sameer... on - hold my CV - LinkedIn.
WHAT HAPPENED?
1. Karan Sarki, whose LinkedIn profile says he’s a Senior Associate (IT) at BharatPe, posted a long grievance note on the professional networking site, tagging Ashneer Grover, Suhail Sameer and other senior members (former and current) at BharatPe.
2. Sarki claimed that he, along with a few other employees at the fintech start-up, have not received their salaries due for the month of March. He also said that the old administration staff was fired by the company without any reason and even their salaries weren’t paid.
3. He further made scandalous allegations that the company has money to send their staff on a paid trip to Goa, but not enough funds to pay the salaries of the employees.
4. Sarki’s post soon went viral. Jilted co-founder Ashneer Grover commented on Sarki’s post saying, “Folks please look into this. Not done – their salaries have to be paid first before anything.”
5. But it was Grover’s sister Aashima’s comment that spilled the pot. Aashima Grover commented on the post, “That’s the sad part... That’s (sic) it’s a shameless bunch.”
6. Aashima’s retort triggered an uncharacteristic and definitely unprofessional response from the current CEO of BharatPe, Suhail Sameer, who said, “Behen – tere bhai ne saara paisa chura liya (Sister, your brother stole all the money). Very little left to pay salaries.”
7. Suhail Sameer later apologised for his words. He also replied to the aggrieved staff saying that the concerned party will get in touch with him and others and sort out the issue. He also promised to have their unpaid salaries and other reimbursements paid by Friday, April 8, 2022.
8. Karan Sarki’s post also triggered other similar grievances to flood LinkedIn by BharatPe employees.
9. MoneyControl reported that Ashneer Grover later also wrote to the BharatPe board seeking an apology from its CEO Suhail Sameer for his comments against his sister, and also demanding the resignation of its Chairman Rajnish Kumar.
10. Read the complete interaction here:
THE HISTORY OF BHARATPE’S TIFF WITH CO-FOUNDER ASHNEER GROVER
The whole tiff between BharatPe’s board and its co-founder Ashneer Grover broke out in the public post the Kotak audio controversy. Following that, Ashneer Grover and his wife Madhuri Jain Grover went on a voluntary leave of absence, though both the company and the Grovers claimed that everything was fine.
Then all hell broke loose, as BharatPe fired Ashneer Grover’s wife Madhuri Jain Grover. Soon, an internal audit was ordered. Weeks later, Ashneer Grover also tendered his resignation while also trading barbs with the board of BharatPe.
Allegations surfaced that Ashneer and his family had swindled funds from the company to lead a lavish life. Of course, the Grovers refute the allegations and say that other board members including the CEO Suhail Sameer are the ones eating away at the company funds.
Just before the drama on LinkedIn, Ashneer Grover had mocked CEO Suhail Sameer over reports of BharatPe registering a degrowth. Grover had tweeted on Thursday, April 7, 2022, that BharatPe closed its first quarter of ‘maximum cash burn’. In a retort he had said, “Chaabi chheenna and hatti chalana do alag alag skills hai (Stealing the business and running a business are two different skills)!”
So I just heard @bharatpeindia closed it’s first quarter of ‘degrowth’ and ‘maximum cash burn’ under able (sic) leadership of Rajnish Kumar and Suhail Sameer. ‘Chaabi chheenna and hatti chalana do alag alag skills hai !’ Ab Nani yaad aayegi - markets are the ultimate test & truth
— Ashneer Grover (@Ashneer_Grover) April 7, 2022
However, BharatPe refuted the claims saying that the company had in fact registered its strongest growth in its history this quarter.
Pretty sure if Shark Tank India was a success, then a melodrama on BharatPe would also be a hit.