MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday appointed former Supreme Court Justice R V Raveendran as the sole mediator to try and amicably resolve the disputes arising from a family arrangement between brothers Abhishek and Abhinandan Lodha. The two are sons of property magnate and South Mumbai Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) M P Lodha.
Justice Arif Doctor said the mediation is to resolve the “genesis” of a legal dispute between companies headed by each brother over the use of the name ‘Lodha’ for real estate projects. Justice Doctor on Monday suggested mediation as the first line of resolution after consultation.
Major Macrotech Developers, promoted by Abhishek Lodha, filed a trademark infringement and passing off suit before the HC earlier this month against the younger brother’s House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), claiming and alleging losses to the tune of ₹5000 crore.

Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas on Friday informed Justice Doctor that his client Abhishek was willing to go in for mediation. Justice Doctor on Monday asked Dwarkadas if his client, Abhishek, was willing to try mediation.
Dwarkadas suggested two names as mediators. Dwarkadas and senior counsel Darius Khambata, appearing for Macrotech, both submitted that all parties before the HC be part of the mediation process too. Khambata said the company is a public limited one with 30 percent shareholders.
Senior counsel Ravi Kadam for HoABL and Aspi Chinoy for Abhinandan said the mediation between brothers would naturally bind the companies they represent.
After much animated submissions on the need to involve all parties, including companies, in the mediation, Justice Doctor finally said the mediation should start with only the brothers first as the disputes’ genesis rests on their differences.

The Judge said it would be open to the mediator to decide after the first meeting with the brothers only if the companies need to be roped in as well. All counsel present felt that was fair.
Macrotech’s plea was for urgent interim relief to restrain HoABL from using ‘Lodha’ or a similar trade name. The HC called for replies and posted the matter to March, giving the mediator almost a month to decide. The HC also said if the mediator needs more time, he may request it.
Justice Doctor said, “If there is a resolution between the brothers, all this will come to an end.”
Khambata on Monday said that the Lodha name has been associated with real estate since 1980 as a registered trademark and cited family agreements to say the younger brother who started HoABL was meant to use ‘Lodha’ only for ‘new business’, not real estate.
He added that buyers are very confused, and Macrotech was bearing the brunt of it. Chinoy said the suit appeared “dressed up” after Kadam said the HoABL was using Lodha in its own trademark since 2020 within the knowledge of Macrotech. Both sides said the mediation should be time-bound.
Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, out of court, which requires both sides to willingly opt for it. Later, Abhishek Lodha, through a spokesperson, said, “I am agreeable to go through the mediation process recommended by Justice Arif Doctor. Abhinandan is my younger brother and I have a lot of love for him. I have always supported him in whatever manner possible and wished for his success. I hope this mediation process helps us reconcile the differences.”
Who is Justice Raveendran?

Raju Varadarajulu Raveendran, BSc, BL, was born on October 15, 1946. He enrolled as an Advocate in March 1968. He was appointed as a permanent Judge of the Karnataka High Court on February 22, 1993, and as Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court on July 8, 2004. He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on September 9, 2005, and retired on October 15, 2011.
Abhinandan lodha, chairperson of The House of Abhinandan Lodha, through his spokesperson said, “Abhinandan Lodha continues to believe that family matters should not be settled in public. This is the reason he chose to maintain a dignified silence for over 10 years in the interest of the family. He does hope that his family honours all the commitments made to him as he has delivered not only on all his commitments but has also gone beyond, whenever called upon to help with advice, time, and money”