Lodha vs Lodha: Macrotech alleges HoABL used forged orders for brand name

Lodha Ventures, an Abhinandan Lodha enterprise, refutes allegations

In a new chapter of the trademark dispute between the Lodha brothers’ firms, Abhishek Lodha’s Macrotech Developers has accused certain entities of his younger brother Abhinandan Lodha’s House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) of using “purported” board resolutions of Macrotech to claim the right to the “Lodha” trademark and submitting them to government authorities.

 

However, a spokesperson for Lodha Ventures, an Abhinandan Lodha enterprise, said, “HoABL does not admit to any of the allegations of fraud and forgery sought to be attributed to us.”

 

The allegations could derail mediation talks between the two parties, which have been ongoing since January.

 

In a stock exchange filing on Tuesday, Macrotech said that certain HoABL entities used the company’s purported board resolutions dated July 24, 2022, which did not object to HoABL’s use of the “Lodha” trademark.

 

Lodha Group said, “This is a clear-cut case of forgery, fraud, and impersonation with intent to cheat and deceive. The entities and individuals concerned have created a completely fake resolution of Macrotech Developers (Lodha), including a false letterhead, false company stamp, false board meeting date, and content that we have never approved, along with a false signature of our independent director that bears no resemblance to his actual signature. This was supported by identity fraud involving Ashwani Kumar, former chairman and managing director (CMD) of Dena Bank, whose permanent account number (PAN) card was tampered with — his photo and signature were altered — to facilitate the resolution’s acceptance by the Government of India (Registrar of Companies). We are shocked at the extent of the conspiracy and the misuse of government systems.”

 

The Mumbai-based developer clarified that no board meetings were held on the dates mentioned in the resolutions and that its board never considered or approved these resolutions in any of its meetings.

 

Further, Macrotech claimed that the resolutions filed by HoABL with government authorities contained a forged signature of Kumar. The company said that Kumar has confirmed he did not certify any such resolutions, that the signature on the documents is not his, and that the attached PAN card copy differs from his actual PAN card.

 

Macrotech also alleged that the boards of at least two HoABL companies approved and obtained a change in their corporate names to ones beginning with 'Lodha’, which is a registered trademark of Macrotech, by submitting these purported documents that were neither issued nor approved by Macrotech. The renamed companies then used their new identities to conduct business activities. 

 

One of the HoABL entities, Varpan Land Developers, passed a resolution in its board meeting on July 12, 2022, to change its name to Lodha Landbuild Infrastructure or Lodha Bhoomi Nirman.

 

The alleged fraudulent resolution of Macrotech, dated July 24, 2022, supposedly allowed Varpan Land Developers to use the ‘Lodha’ trademark.

 

On August 3, 2022, Ashwinder Matharu, chief of operations, strategy, and investments at HoABL, submitted a service request to the Registrar of Companies (RoC) to change Varpan Land Developers' name to Lodha Landbuild Infrastructure.

 

On August 4, RoC’s central registration center in Manesar, Haryana, approved the change, and by September, the entity began using the name Lodha Landbuild Infrastructure to obtain approvals for its Imperial Goa Phase 1 project in Goa.

 

However, in April 2023, the name Lodha Landbuild Infrastructure was changed again, this time to HoABL Landbuild Infrastructure.

 

Macrotech further said that its board of directors, in its meeting on Tuesday (April 2), reviewed the relevant documents and took serious cognisance of the conspiracy to use fabricated documents to exploit the company’s goodwill, brand, and registered trademark.

 

The board also formed a special committee of directors to investigate the matter and take appropriate legal action. Abhishek Lodha requested to be excluded from the committee, and his request was accepted.

 

Earlier, in January 2025, Macrotech Developers filed a lawsuit in the Bombay High Court against HoABL over the use of the ‘Lodha’ name, seeking ~5,000 crore in damages. However, the court suggested that both parties resolve the matter through mediation.

 

Later that month, both parties submitted their willingness to pursue mediation. The court then appointed retired Supreme Court judge R V Raveendran to mediate between the real estate tycoons. 

Macrotech's Allegations

 

*  HoABL entities used ‘purported’ board resolution(s) of Macrotech containing a no objection for the use of the company’s trademarks

 

*  Boards of at least two HoABL firms approved and obtained a change in their corporate names

 

*  Forged signature of Macrotech’s independent director, Ashwani Kumar, on the resolutions

 

*  Forged PAN card copy of Kumar attached to the resolutions