Bombay High Court issues interim order after Bisleri alleges infringement
Packaged water brand Aquapeya, which secured ₹70 lakh in funding from Shark Tank India judges Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal earlier this year, has been ordered by the Bombay High Court to cease operations following a lawsuit by Bisleri International.
The court’s interim order prohibits Aquapeya from manufacturing, packaging, distributing, marketing, or selling its bottled water after Bisleri accused the brand of trademark and copyright infringement. The case stems from an episode of Shark Tank India Season 4, aired on January 20, where Aquapeya’s founders admitted to leveraging the goodwill of established brands.
Trademark Controversy
Bisleri, India’s leading packaged water company, alleged that Aquapeya’s branding is “deceptively similar” to its own, including the use of identical color schemes and design elements. According to court filings reviewed by The Economic Times, Bisleri claimed that Aquapeya had copied its registered trademark and associated artistic work.
Aquapeya, produced by Natvits Beverages, had secured a deal valuing the company at ₹23.33 crore, with investors Thapar and Agarwal agreeing to a 3% equity stake and 1% royalty. The founders, Maharashtra-based entrepreneurs Tushar and Ravi Mundada, launched the brand in 2018 after researching market preferences for packaged water branding.
Legal and Industry Backlash
The case has also raised concerns over Shark Tank India’s vetting process, with legal experts questioning whether the show’s judges should have endorsed a brand allegedly based on intellectual property (IP) infringement.
“The episode raises questions about how such a business model was approved on a public platform,” said a senior lawyer familiar with trademark disputes.
The Bombay High Court’s order marks a significant legal setback for Aquapeya and also spotlights IP enforcement in India’s competitive packaged water industry.