Flipkart CEO Binny Bansal Quits After Investigations Into Sexual Assault Allegation

Binny Bansal, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Flipkart Group, has resigned post an independent investigation into a former employee’s allegation that he had sexually assaulted her sometime around 2016, The Wall Street Journal has reported.

As per the report, Walmart interviewed Bansal who told investigators that he had a consensual relationship with the woman and denied having assaulted her. It also came to light that Bansal did not disclose the allegations against him during the due diligence process leading to acquisition or revealed the fact about him hiring security personnel to privately deal with the matter.

The Walmart instituted investigation didn’t find evidence to corroborate the complaint against him but established other “lapses in judgement” and a “lack of transparency” in Bansal’s response to the situation.

In an e-mail statement to the Flipkart employees, Bansal denied the allegation saying, “These events relate to a claim of serious personal misconduct made against me, which was uncorroborated after a thorough investigation completed by an independent law firm. The allegations left me stunned and I strongly deny them.”

Walmart acquired a 77 per cent stake in Flipkart in May 2018 for $16 billion.