London, November 03: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s Indian restaurant group in the UK has won a case in an employment tribunal here against Jamal Hirani, the former CEO of the chain.
Hirani, founder of fast-food chain Tiffinbites, had filed a lawsuit in the tribunal claiming more than 1.5 million pounds on grounds of unfair dismissal, alleging that he was forced out of the group to make way for the Bollywood actress. However, the tribunal found that Hirani had not been “constructively dismissed” and should have only the “modest holiday pay which Shetty’s restaurant group has already agreed.”
The tribunal ruled that the employers had “reasonable and proper cause for their actions” concerning the suspension of Hirani. “I am pleased with the tribunal’s decision which was never in doubt in Raj’s and my mind,” the 34-year-old actress said in a statement.
Arjun Varma, the managing director of the group, said, “We are delighted to hear the verdict, which vindicates Shilpa, V8 Gourmet group and my brother Andy and me. Truth and justice have prevailed and we are very pleased with the outcome.” Hirani was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and director of the Gourmet Restaurants Limited, which owns Tiffinbites. He owned 30 per cent stakes in the company.
However, in late 2008 the company was apparently in financial difficulties, and in December 2008 Hirani was suspended by the directors pending an independent investigation of the cause of the difficulties. The company was purchased by V8G in 2009 after its funders, ICICI Bank, withdrew their support and prepared to put the company into pre-packaged administration.
Shetty recently became the company’s co-chairwoman after she and fiance Raj Kundra paid 6 million pounds to buy a 33 per cent stake in it. Hirani has also filed a 6 million pounds lawsuit in High Court, based on the 30 per cent of the firm he previously owned.
–PTI