Madras HC Issues Notice on Plea Challenging Cult.fit’s CULT Trademark Ahead of IPO

The Madras High Court has issued a notice on a petition seeking the cancellation of the CULT trademark registration held by Cultfit Healthcare Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Cult.fit Ltd. The development raises questions over the ownership of the fitness brand as the company moves forward with its proposed initial public offering (IPO).

The rectification petition, registered as OP(TM) No. 51 of 2026, was filed by Deepak Poduval, who co-founded the original CULT fitness business in Bengaluru in 2015. The court issued the notice on October 12 and subsequently adjourned the matter to December 2 on November 5 to give the registered owner time to file its response.

In addition to the trademark proceedings in the High Court, Poduval has approached the Bengaluru Commercial Court. He is seeking to have the 2017 deeds purportedly transferring the brand declared void, alleging that the signatures on those documents were forged. This civil suit is listed for November 16. Cult.fit has denied these allegations, maintaining that Poduval signed the assignment deeds.

The ongoing dispute has also drawn scrutiny toward the company's regulatory disclosures. In a written response dated October 14 addressing a complaint filed by Poduval with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Cult.fit acknowledged that its draft IPO prospectus incorrectly described the ownership of the CULT trademarks. The company clarified that the registrations are actually held by its subsidiary, Cultfit Healthcare Pvt Ltd, rather than Cult.fit Ltd itself, and it has undertaken to correct this disclosure in its final prospectus.

Background records show that Poduval initially applied for the 'CULT – The Workout Station' trademark in August 2015. Subsequently, Cultfit Healthcare filed its application in November 2016, claiming use starting from May 1, 2015. To support the forgery allegations, Poduval has cited a privately commissioned forensic examination of the 2017 assignment deeds, a claim that the company continues to dispute.

The legal challenges carry potential implications for the broader group, which operates hundreds of fitness centers under the CULT brand, alongside Cult Neo gyms and Cultgear products. If the rectification petition is successful, it could impact the group's rights to use, license, or transfer the trademark.

"Trademark ownership and clear title documentation are foundational elements for any company preparing to access public markets through an IPO. Legal disputes regarding core brand assets naturally draw regulatory scrutiny and require transparent disclosures to protect investor interests. For startups scaling up towards public listings, resolving intellectual property disputes and ensuring absolute accuracy in regulatory filings are critical operational priorities to maintain market confidence." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes