The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Telang’s brother-in-law and Cult co-founder Deepak Poduval accusing him of forging documents connected to the transfer of the original Cult business and the subsequent closure of Cult Fitness Private Limited. Bellandur Police lodged an FIR against Telang on August 6.
Poduval alleged that he and Telang incorporated Cult Fitness in November 2015 as its only two subscribers, with each holding a 50 per cent stake. According to the complaint, Telang subsequently excluded him from the management of the company and diverted its business, customers, goodwill and revenue to Cultfit Healthcare Private Limited, which was incorporated in August 2016.
Poduval further alleged that his signatures were forged on financial statements and documents submitted to the Registrar of Companies to have Cult Fitness struck off in 2019. He claimed that he discovered the alleged irregularities only after examining the company’s records in May and June 2026.
The FIR invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy, along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.