Marketing and communication firm WPP Scangroup and its founding CEO Bharat Thakrar are in a legal battle over alleged data breaches, secret WhatsApp messages and the right to access his data stored on company devices.
The contention reached new heights on Tuesday as the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) ordered WPP Scangroup, its parent company (WPP) and the consulting firm Control Risks Group to pay Thakrar Ksh 1.95 million for alleged privacy violations related to accessing and using his WhatsApp messages in investigations that ultimately led to his suspension in February 2021.
The ODPC directed WPP Scangroup to allow Thakrar access to personal data tied to his CEO tenure, including any logins and laptops that may contain personal information. In response, WPP Scangroup vowed to challenge the order in the High Court foreshadowing a drawn-out legal dispute that may expose internal discord between Thakrar who retains a 9.79% shareholding and the company he founded.
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Thakrar and former CFO Satyabrata Das were suspended in 2021 following a whistleblower report implicating them in gross misconduct. The whistleblower report contained serious allegations, including claims of financial mismanagement and abuse of power.
