India

Bengaluru, 3rd November 2026: King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates & Attorneys ("KSK"), has further strengthened its Real Estate practice with the addition of Hitendra Hiremath, who joins the Firm as a Partner. Hitendra will be based in Bengaluru. Hitendra's arrival adds further depth to KSK's Real Estate capabilities and reinforces the Firm's ability to advise developers, landowners, investors, and homebuyers across the real estate lifecycle. KSK has an established Real Estate practice, advising clients on transactions, regulatory compliance, and disputes across residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. The addition of Hitendra significantly enhances the Firm's bench strength in this space and strengthens its ability to advise clients on complex, high-value matters. Hitendra brings over 11 years of experience advising on real estate transactions, RERA and regulatory matters, and real estate litigation. He is an alumnus of National Law University, Jodhpur & KSLU’s Law School, Hubballi. Working closely with KSK's Corporate and M&A, Banking & Finance, Regulatory, and Dispute Resolution practices, Hitendra will help the Firm provide clients with an integrated offering across the project and transaction lifecycle and contribute to strengthening the KSK’s real estate capabilities and its ability to deliver integrated legal solutions to clients. His addition will enable the Firm to provide comprehensive support across the entire real estate project and transaction lifecycle, from initial structuring, land acquisition, title due diligence and project development to regulatory approvals, RERA compliance, financing arrangements, commercial transactions and dispute resolution. Commenting on the development, Jidesh Kumar, Managing Partner and Co-founder of King Stubb & Kasiva, said:  "Real estate is one of the most dynamic and regulation-driven sectors in India, and clients increasingly want advisors who understand the deal, the dispute and the regulator equally well. Hitendra is exactly that kind of lawyer. His depth across transactions, RERA and real estate litigation fits our vision of an integrated practice that supports clients end to end. At KSK, we are deliberate about building specialist practices led by partners who combine strong technical credentials with a commercial mindset. Hitendra’s arrival is a significant step in that journey, and we are excited about what we will build together.” Commenting on joining KSK, Hitendra Hiremath, Partner, Real Estate Practice at King Stubb & Kasiva, said:  "KSK has built a distinctive, partner-led national platform, and the ambition of its leadership to build specialist practices at scale is what drew me to the Firm. India’s real estate sector is evolving fast, with greater regulatory scrutiny, more institutional capital and more sophisticated stakeholders, and clients need advice that is both commercially sharp and legally robust. I look forward to working with Jidesh and my colleagues across KSK to grow the Real Estate practice and to help developers, landowners and investors navigate every stage of the project lifecycle with confidence.” The addition of Hitendra forms part of KSK's continued investment in strengthening its specialist practices and building greater depth across key areas of corporate and real estate law.

Argus Partners is pleased to announce that it has advised Scimplify, a Bengaluru-based speciality chemicals and advanced materials company, on its USD 25 million Series C funding round led by Hitachi Ventures, with participation from Accel, Bertelsmann Investments, 3one4 Capital, Omnivore, and other strategic investors, including Henkel and Teknor Apex. The fundraise will support Scimplify's expansion of its research and manufacturing capabilities, particularly in critical minerals, semiconductor chemicals and battery materials, while strengthening its presence in international markets and further developing its AI-powered platform, SciNode. The investment by Hitachi Ventures marks a significant milestone for Scimplify, strengthening its strategic ties with Japan and creating opportunities for deeper integration into the Japanese corporate procurement ecosystem and global speciality chemicals supply chains. The deal team at Argus Partners consisted of Ankit Guha and Vallishree Chandra (Partners), and Srishti Sneha and Amruth Rao (Associates).

Argus Partners is pleased to have advised CE-Invests, on its investment in TVS Automobile Solutions Private Limited (“TVS ASL”). CE-Invests is the UAE-based strategic investments platform of Crescent Enterprises, investing in mid-market growth companies and private equity funds. TVS ASL is India's largest independent automotive aftermarket player and owns the omnichannel brand myTVS. CE-Invests led the company's Series D fundraise of INR 425 crore (approximately USD 45 million). The investment is a strategic move by CE-Invests to support myTVS’ next phase of profitable growth in India by extending its physical service network and further developing AI-enabled diagnostics, predictive maintenance and other digital capabilities. myTVS already connects more than 1,000 garages and 10,000 retailers, serving more than 10 million direct and indirect customers. Crescent Enterprises will also bring its regional networks and market expertise to support myTVS’ expansion into the UAE and wider MENA region. The investment reflects CE-Invests' strategy of backing established, well-governed mid-market businesses with a long-term investment horizon and forms part of Crescent Enterprises' AED 1 billion deployment programme across India, Southeast Asia and the GCC. The team at Argus Partners advising CE-Invests consisted of Abhinav Bhalaik, Vallishree Chandra (Partners) and Srishti Sneha (Associate).

19th October, 2026 – King Stubb and Kasiva (KSK) has secured a significant order from the Bombay High Court on behalf of its client, AND Movie Productions LLP (“Petitioner”), in a dispute with co-producer Echelon Productions and its Partners (“Respondents”) concerning the Hindi-language cinematograph film Tu Hai Meri Kiran, starring Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal, which is scheduled for theatrical release on 23rd October 2026. Passing the order on 19th October 2026 in Commercial Arbitration Petition (L) No. 34544 of 2026, filed under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amit Borkar substantially allowed the petition. The Court has directed Echelon Productions to deposit INR 8.85 Crores in Court, together with interest at 15% per annum calculated from the respective dates on which the Petitioner paid its investment, within 3 (three) working days as security for the Petitioner’s claim. Until the deposit is made, the Respondents stand restrained from releasing or commercially exploiting the film through theatrical, satellite, digital, OTT, music or any other mode. Once the deposit is made, the theatrical release may proceed, subject to compliance with the Court’s remaining directions and the Co-Production Agreement. The Court held that the Petitioner had made out a strong prima facie case for securing the amount in dispute. Reading the Co-Production Agreement as a whole, it rejected the contention that repayment could arise only after the film earned revenue, and held that the obligation to return the investment had fallen due on 27th April 2025 under Clause 5.3 of the Agreement. The Court also found that the Respondents had not established that the cheque for INR 7.50 Crores issued on 1st January 2026, which was dishonoured, had been issued merely as security. Significantly, the Court ruled that the Petitioner’s participation in Instagram promotions for the film did not amount to a waiver of the overdue repayment obligation, nor did it constitute consent to third-party exploitation agreements being signed without the Petitioner being made a confirming party. The Court also clarified that the Respondents cannot treat that participation as a general permission to disregard the agreed producer credits. In addition to securing the deposit, the Court directed the Respondents to disclose on affidavit within 5 (five) working days all executed and proposed agreements, offers, term sheets and production agreements relating to the film, along with all amounts received or receivable under each arrangement. The Court also directed that the Respondents shall not enter into any agreements for exploitation of the film without making the Petitioner a confirming party and obtaining its prior consent. Additionally, the Court directed the Respondents to deposit all revenues generated from exploitation of the film into a separate designated account, with regular statements to the Petitioner, and not to divert or withdraw any amount in a manner contrary to the terms of the Co-Production Agreement. Lastly, the Court directed the Respondents to correct or withdraw, within 48 hours, any publicity materials that do not carry the agreed producer credits for the Petitioner. The Respondents’ request for a stay of the order was also rejected by the Court. The Court has made clear that its findings are prima facie and for the purpose of interim relief only, and that questions of final liability, accounts, interest and the parties’ rights in the film are left open for determination in arbitration. The order underscores that the Court will protect a co-producer’s investment and contractual rights, including consent, confirming-party status and agreed credits, before the release of a film. The KSK TeamKSK’s team advising on the matter comprised: Mr. Arpit Choudhary, Partner Mr. Krunal Mehta, Associate Partner Ms. Karen Koya, Associate This order is a significant outcome for KSK’s Media & Entertainment practice, reflecting the firm’s ability to secure urgent, commercially balanced relief in high-value film co-production disputes on the eve of release.