Macrotech discloses 'fabricated and false' board resolution by HoABL entities in trademark tussle

Macrotech Developers said on April 2,"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."

Listed real estate company Macrotech Developers has disclosed 'serious and critical' facts in its ongoing dispute with the House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), alleging that some entities used a no objection on trademark, which they submitted to government authorities as well, when the aforesaid board meeting never occurred, and no such resolution was approved.

The dates of these board resolutions have not been mentioned by Macrotech Developers in its statement, but the company alleges that the boards of HoABL entities procured a change in their corporate names to ‘LODHA’ based on these documents, which were not issued by the

company.

In an exchange filing, Macrotech Developers said on April 2,"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." The management denied that such a board meeting took place on the date mentioned in the board resolutions, and said the board has 'never considered or approved' such resolutions in 'any of its meetings whatsoever'.

The company statement goes on to say that the signatures of one of the company's Independent Director does not match that on the board resolution which was approved, and the 'signature and photograph have been changed' on the PAN card of the Director submitted alongside. "This signature is not his signature and is significantly different from his true signature," the statement said.

The PAN card copy of the Independent Director attached alongside the board resolution too seemed to have been changed, said Macrotech, a fact confirmed by the director himself, who added that he has not cerified any such resolutions, and neither the signatures nor the PAN card is his.

"On comparison against the actual PAN Card of the said Independent Director, it is seen that his signature and photograph have been changed," the company statement added.

Macrotech's statement said the boards of 'at least two HoABL companies approved and procured' a change in corporate identity to ‘LODHA’ - which is the listed realtor's trademark - by using documents that were not issued or approved by company. The name of HoABL entities were changed to carry business activities under the Lodha brand name, said Macrotech.

The allegations by Macrotech of 'fabricated and false board resolutions' against the House Of Abhinandan Lodha are serious in nature. The Board has set up a Special Committee of Directors to look into the matter, said the company, with Abhishek Lodha not being part of the panel.

"The Board has constituted a Special Committee of Directors to look into this and take appropriate legal action. Abhishek Lodha has requested not to be part of this Committee and the same has been accepted," the company statement said.

A spokesperson for Lodha Ventures, the owner of House of Abhinandan Lodha, said, "We are internally looking into the matter and shall revert with our detailed response. Suffice it to state that the House of Abhinandan Lodha does not admit any of the allegations of fraud and forgery sought to be attributed to us".

Earlier this year, the internal legal battle of the Lodha Group has led to Abhishek Lodha, the CEO of Macrotech Developers sue his brother Abhidandan Lodha, who runs a real estate company by the name of House of Abhinandan Lodha(HoABL).