Bombay HC To Hear ₹5,000 Crore 'Lodha' Trademark Dispute On January 27

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court (HC) will hear on January 27 an application filed by Macrotech Developers Ltd, led by Abhishek Lodha, seeking an injunction against his younger brother Abhinandan Lodha’s real estate firm, House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoAL), from using the trademark ‘Lodha’.

Macrotech argued that it is the flagship company of the Lodha Group, a leading real estate developer established in the early 1980s. In its suit filed last week, the company also claimed the ownership of other related registered trademarks.

On Tuesday, the matter was initially placed before Justice Manish Pitale, whose court hears suits valued up to Rs 100 crore. Since Macrotech’s plea involves damages exceeding Rs 5,000 crore, it was transferred to Justice Arif Doctor. Hearing the case later in the day, Justice Doctor noted the familial nature of the dispute as Macrotech’s lawyer confirmed it was a fight between brothers.

The Lodha brothers, sons of BJP leader and state minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, had an internal agreement until 2015 that allowed all companies within the group to use the trademark. Abhinandan separated from the group that year to launch his own business. The terms of separation were formalised in a 2017 family settlement agreement. In another agreement inked in 2023, Abhinandan’s venture was named House of Abhinandan Lodha.

Macrotech, however, asserted that it was not part of the 2023 agreement and hence it is “not bound by its terms”. It claimed that it had never granted permission to HoAL to use the trademark. The company further highlighted its extensive brand-building efforts, claiming to have spent Rs 1,700 crore on advertisements and endorsements in the last decade. Macrotech cited its domestic property sales of Rs 91,000 crore during the same period, emphasising the goodwill associated with the ‘Lodha’ brand.