Lodha brothers amicably end long-drawn dispute

IANS April 14, 2025 165 views

The Lodha brothers, Abhishek and Abhinandan, have successfully resolved their long-standing family business dispute through mediation. Under the guidance of retired Supreme Court Justice R.V. Raveendran, they agreed on clear brand and business ownership rights. Macrotech Developers will exclusively use the "Lodha" brand, while Abhinandan Lodha retains rights to "House of Abhinandan Lodha". This resolution ends a complex legal battle that began in 2015 when Abhinandan separated from the family business.

"Both Abhishek and Abhinandan express their heartfelt gratitude to Justice R.V. Raveendran" - Lodha Brothers Press Statement
Mumbai, April 14: In a significant development, the Lodha brothers - elder brother Abhishek Lodha and younger brother Abhinandan Lodha - and the companies led by them, have amicably resolved all outstanding disputes under the guidance of their parents, according to a press statement issued by them on Monday.

Key Points

1

Macrotech Developers gets exclusive rights to "Lodha" brand

2

Abhinandan Lodha receives rights to "House of Abhinandan Lodha"

3

Brothers confirm no business connections between their entities

4

Mediation process guided by retired Supreme Court justices

The two brothers have agreed and confirmed that Macrotech Developers Ltd ("MDL"), is the owner of, and has the exclusive right to use, the brand names "Lodha" and "Lodha Group".

The agreement states that Abhinandan Lodha is the owner of, and has the exclusive right to use, the brand name "House of Abhinandan Lodha" ("HoABL").

It further states that the Lodha Group and the House of Abhinandan Lodha have no connection with each other, and both entities will communicate this widely.

According to the agreement, Abhinandan Lodha has no rights or claims in Lodha Group or MDL or other businesses of Abhishek Lodha. Similarly, Abhishek Lodha has no rights or claims in HoABL or other businesses of Abhinandan Lodha.

"Both Abhishek and Abhinandan express their heartfelt gratitude to Justice R.V. Raveendran (Retd.), whose guidance in the mediation process was invaluable. The family is grateful to Justice Arif Doctor for encouraging them to follow the process of mediation. They also extend their sincere appreciation to all family elders and well-wishers who provided their counsel and support throughout the resolution process," the press statement added.

Abhishek and Abhinandan Lodha had agreed to find an amicable way in January after the Bombay High Court issued fresh directions in the long drawn dispute. Earlier in January, the court had encouraged both parties to pursue an amicable resolution, following which the two brothers expressed their willingness to participate in mediation before a single bench led by Justice Arif Doctor.

The court appointed former Supreme Court Justice Raveendran to serve as the mediator and indicated that efforts should be made to conclude the proceedings within five weeks. The court had also allowed for an extension of the time period for resolving the dispute, if the mediator found any positive developments.

The dispute between the two brothers flared up in 2015, when Abhinandan Lodha parted ways with the Lodha Group to start his own independent business. The separation was formalised through a family agreement two years later, but a dispute broke out again over the use of the 'Lodha' brand.

The differences led to a legal battle with Macrotech Developers approaching the Bombay High Court, alleging trademark infringement by House of Abhinandan Lodha. Macrotech claimed Rs 5,000 crore in damages, alleging that Abhinandan Lodha's use of the name created confusion in the market.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally some good news! Family disputes can get so messy, especially in business. Glad they found a peaceful resolution. 👏
P
Priya M.
This is why mediation is so important! Courts can't always solve family matters - sometimes you need elders and wise counsel to help find common ground.
A
Amit S.
I wonder how this will affect their businesses going forward. Brand clarity is crucial in real estate. Smart move to make the separation official.
N
Neha T.
Respectful criticism: This could have been resolved years ago without dragging through courts. Family businesses should have clearer succession plans from the start.
V
Vikram J.
₹5000 crore damages claim was excessive IMO. Glad they saw sense and settled. Now both can focus on growing their respective businesses.
S
Sanjana P.
Heartwarming to see family elders helping resolve this. In the end, blood is thicker than business! Wishing both brothers success in their ventures. 💙

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