Legal · Professional & Local Services

Cult co-founder accused of forging signatures

By Startup Enthusiast · 8 August 2026

What they do

Cult.fit is a nationwide fitness platform offering group workouts and gym services

Former co-founder Deepak Poduval alleges Rishabh Telang forged his signatures to wind up their original company, Cult Fitness Private Limited

Cult.fit says the accused entity was separate and not part of its current business, and Telang denies the allegations

Former co-founder Deepak Poduval accused Rishabh Telang of forging his signatures on documents to wind up Cult Fitness Private Limited.
The Bellandur Police registered an FIR on August 6, 2026, naming Telang and Cult Fitness Private Limited as accused.
The FIR alleges forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy among other offences.
Poduval says he found the filings this year while reviewing Cult Fitness records on the MCA portal.
Poduval claims the company was struck off later that year and his entire 50% shareholding was extinguished without consideration.
Cult.fit says the company at the centre of the FIR was separate from its business and neither Cult.fit Limited nor its subsidiaries are accused.
Cult.fit says its subsidiary CultFit Healthcare acquired assets and IP from Poduval and Cult Fitness in 2016 under contractual arrangements with consideration paid.
Telang denies forging signatures, says Poduval was involved in the transaction and winding-up, and points to an MCA email from March 12, 2020 acknowledging the winding-up.

The dispute is the second recent instance of a co-founder raising allegations of wrongdoing involving a startup ahead of an IPO, after Rentomojo co-founder Ajay Nain raised concerns over stake transfer and corporate filings.
Telang questions the timing of the FIR, pointing to a property-settlement case filed against Poduval by his sister (Poduval's wife) on July 1, 2026.

Cult Fitness Private Limited was the original company behind the Cult brand, founded in 2015 in Bengaluru.
It operated as a fitness chain around group workouts.

Telang says he is evaluating legal remedies and is confident facts will emerge through due process.

Product: Hybrid fitness model combining digital workout offerings through app with 700+ physical gym locations
Customers: Fitness enthusiasts seeking gym memberships and digital workout programs
How it makes money: Recurring gym membership revenue plus digital subscription