Employees of B9 Beverages Ltd, the maker of the popular craft beer Bira 91, have officially decided to take legal action against the company. After facing salary delays for over a year and attempting to resolve the matter through dialogue, staff members state they have no choice left. This decision comes shortly after a silent protest was held at the founder’s residence in Defence Colony, New Delhi, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
What is the current situation with salaries?
More than 700 current and former employees are currently struggling with unpaid dues. According to reports, many employees have not received their salaries since February 2025, and reimbursements for business expenses have been pending since November 2024. The total outstanding amount for salaries and reimbursements is estimated to be around ₹50 crore.
Beyond just salaries, there is a serious allegation regarding statutory deductions. Employees claim that while Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Provident Fund (PF) were cut from their paychecks, the company failed to deposit these amounts with the government for over a year. This negligence has impacted their ability to file taxes and secure loans, adding to their financial stress.
Why is the company facing such a crisis?
The financial troubles at Bira 91 were reportedly worsened by a regulatory hurdle in 2024. When the company changed its name from “Private Limited” to “Limited,” it had to re-apply for liquor licenses in every state. This bureaucratic process paused sales for several months and resulted in an inventory write-off of nearly ₹80 crore. Additionally, the company saw its revenue drop by over 30% in FY24, with losses widening significantly.
What does the management say?
Ankur Jain, the Founder and CEO of B9 Beverages, has acknowledged the pain and anger of the workforce. He mentioned that the company is in the final stages of closing a deal with new investors. Jain has assured that he expects to clear all outstanding dues by the end of March 2026. However, employees argue that after sending over 200 written representations to various agencies without success, litigation is now the only path forward to recover their hard-earned money.
