Fabindia-khadi

“Your continued violation and unauthorised/illegal use has caused and continues to cause irreparable loss/harm and damage to our client’s khadi trademark and its goodwill and reputation… In these circumstances, you have rendered yourselves liable to institution of both civil and criminal proceedings, without prejudice to any other rights that our client (KVIC) may have in law or in equity,” the notice states.

The KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena declined to comment.

The body has demanded that Fabindia immediately surrender its entire stock bearing the “khadi” or “charkha” marks, including unused cartons, brochures, pamphlets, price lists, circulars and advertisements. It has also asked Fabinidia to hand over its inventory and profitand-loss accounts for the last three years for inspection.

“We are in receipt of the notice from lawyers instructed by KVIC, and are surprised at its contents. We have made it clear to KVIC through extensive correspondence and in multiple meetings over the last two years that Fabindia is not in violation of any of the provisions of the KVIC Act or regulations framed thereunder. The claims made in the notice are baseless. The notice has been entrusted to our lawyers and any action taken in pursuance of the notice will be defended by us vigorously,” said a Fabindia spokesperson.

According to the notice, Fabindia officials met the KVIC