The popular Bira 91 beer made its mark in India with its bold, youthful image and refreshing flavours since its launch in 2015. But now, the brand is apparently in trouble as around 250 employees have reportedly sought the removal of its founder, Ankur Jain, with a written petition. Keep reading to know why.
Employees Of Bira 91 Beer Brand Demand Founder’s Removal
Hundreds of employees at B9 Beverages, the maker of the Bira 91 craft beer brand, have now approached the company’s board. As per a report by LiveMint, they have signed a petition seeking a change in leadership and the removal of founder Ankur Jain.
Top investors of the brand, including Japan’s Kirin Holdings and Peak XV Partners, were approached as well. The demand was also reportedly directed to B9 Beverages’ largest lender, Anicut Capital. But what exactly are the employees demanding, and why do they want Ankur Jain removed?
In their petition, the employees listed corporate governance failures, lack of transparency, and delayed salaries. They also claimed that the company has pending vendor payments. Several staff members stated that their salaries have not been credited for nearly six months, and reimbursements have been pending since November 2024.
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Financial Trouble At The Company
Reportedly, around 50 employees also stated that B9 Beverages had not deposited their TDS for the past financial year. One of them shared with The Economic Times that the last PF contribution was made in March 2024. These allegations point to a clear case of financial trouble at the company. All pending payments reportedly amount to nearly ₹50 crore. B9 Beverages has also seen multiple layoffs and has downsized to about 260 employees from nearly 700.
However, Ankur Jain has acknowledged the salary delay allegations. He told The Economic Times that it is true that employee overdues have persisted for three to five months, depending on the level of employees. He further added that the company has delayed tax payments. Ankur also said he is unaware of any petition addressed to key shareholders. As of June 2025, Ankur Jain and his family held a 17.8% stake in Bira 91, while Kirin Holdings remained the largest stakeholder with a 20.1% share.
Ankur Jain further added that B9 Beverages has faced significant business disruptions over the last 18 months. These included a change in the company’s name, changes in liquor policy, and delays in the fundraising process. All these factors caused a decline in sales volumes in FY25, which disrupted cash flow and led to the pile-up of overdue payments, including statutory dues, employee salaries, and vendor payments.
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What do you think of this new development at one of India’s most popular beer brands? Do you think Bira 91 will recover from this ongoing financial trouble? We now await further updates on this story.
Cover Image Courtesy: @bira91beer/ Instagram
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