Lodha Brothers' Dispute Escalates as HoABL Files Police Complaint Amid Rs 5,000 Cr Trademark Case

In a fresh escalation between real estate major Lodha brothers, the House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) has filed a police complaint after Macrotech Developers, led by Abhishek Lodha, accused the firm of forgery to exploit the 'Lodha' brand and trademark.

The complaint, filed with the Mumbai Police, marks a new chapter in the ongoing dispute between Abhinandan Lodha and Abhishek Lodha, who are currently engaged in a court-mandated mediation over the use of the "Lodha" brand.

According to a report by The Economic Times (ET), HoABL has lodged a police complaint against unknown persons, alleging that forged documents were used with malicious intent to damage the company's reputation. HoABL stated that it had originally attempted to rename four group companies using the 'Lodha' name, with approvals from group entity Lodha Ventures, but the Registrar of Companies (ROC) initially rejected the application.

Later, the company discovered that someone had resubmitted the applications using forged documents, which led to ROC approving the name changes. HoABL has submitted all relevant documents and requested a formal investigation, the ET report added.

Macrotech Developers vs HoABL      

In a stock exchange filing on April 2, Macrotech Developers accused HoABL-linked entities of forging documents, including board resolutions and a fake PAN card, to unlawfully add "Lodha" to their company names.

"Certain HoABL entities have used purported Board Resolution(s) (“BRs”) of the Company containing a no objection for use of the Company’s trademarks and filed the same with government authorities. No Board meeting of the Company has been held on the date which is stated in these BRs, and the Company’s Board has never considered or approved such BRs in any of its meetings whatsoever," Macrotech said.

The allegations come in the wake of a Rs 5,000 crore lawsuit Macrotech filed earlier this year in the Bombay High Court, accusing Abhinandan Lodha and his firm of misusing the "Lodha" brand and violating a 2017 family settlement agreement.

Abhinandan Lodha, who exited the Lodha Group in 2015, later founded the House of Abhinandan Lodha, which focuses on land investments and digital real estate services.

In February, the court appointed former Supreme Court Justice R.V. Raveendran to mediate the ongoing dispute.