After an audio clip of him allegedly assaulting a bank
employee went viral, BharatPe's co-founder and managing director Ashneer
Grover, who is also a judge on the Indian version of Shark Tank, is taking a
voluntary leave of absence.
Grover said in a statement that he would take the time off
to "rejuvenate and refresh" himself and think about BharatPe's future
in terms of product development, profitability, and the company's path to an
IPO. His note, however, made no mention of the Kotak Bank scandal.
“For now, the Board has accepted Ashneer’s decision which we
agree is in the best interests of the company, our employees and investors, and
the millions of merchants we support each day,” said the company. Grover was
apparently asked to depart by BharatPe's board of directors for a period of
time, but they made no direct remark on the Kotak squabble.
Grover has a reputation on Shark Tank for being a bit of a blunt
person. While his candour is appealing to some, most others believe he is too tough
on aspiring businesses.
In contrast, Ashneer Grover is a straightforward guy by
nature and in business. His appearance on the Shark Tank India Show was
important as well, with him claiming that he is a plain individual, but the
Kotak Mahindra Matters pursued him.