Mumbai: The Lodha brothers have sought three more weeks to resolve the trademark dispute between them through mediation.
The dispute arose when Macrotech Developers Ltd, led by Abhishek Lodha, filed an application in January seeking an injunction against his younger brother, Abhinandan Lodha’s real estate firm, House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), to prevent it from using the trademark ‘Lodha.’
On Monday, Counsels for Abhishek Lodha and Abhinandan Lodha told the Bombay High Court that the mediator, Retired Supreme Court Justice RV Raveendran, would be holding the next meetings on March 24 and 25.
Karl Tamboly, counsel for Abhinandan Lodha, told Justice Arif Doctor that the mediator has kept the hearing next week for counter proposal from them and sought adjournment before the HC. “Mediator has kept it for hearing next week for a counter proposal from us. Hence, we seek adjournment,” said Tamboly.
The court had suggested that the parties attempt to resolve the dispute amicably through mediation, observing that it was primarily a matter between two brothers.
After counsels for both the brothers said they were agreeable to mediation, Justice (Retd) Raveendran was appointed in January 31 as the sole mediator. Justice Doctor had even asked the mediator to try and resolve the dispute expeditiously, preferably within five P.
The Lodha brothers, sons of BJP leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, had an internal agreement until 2015 allowing all companies within the group to use the trademark. Abhinandan separated from the group that year to establish his own business. The terms of separation were formalized in a 2017 family settlement agreement and a subsequent 2023 agreement, under which Abhinandan’s venture was named HoABL.
However, Macrotech asserted that it was not a party to the 2023 agreement and was not bound by its terms. The company stated that it had never granted permission to Abhinandan’s firm to use the trademark. The HC has kept the matter for hearing on April 28.
