Alfa Sports & Co, a Kashmir-based manufacturer of cricket bats, has issued a formal legal notice directed towards Sony Entertainment Television, the broadcaster of Shark Tank India, as well as the co-founders of Tramboo Sports, Saad Tramboo and Hamad Tramboo.
The company is demanding Rs 500 crore in compensation for the damages, business losses, and mental agony inflicted due to the distortion of facts by Tramboo Sports during its appearance on Shark Tank India, as per a report by Inc42.
In an episode aired on January 30, 2024, during season 3 of Shark Tank India, the duo made their pitch on the show.
Alfa Sports mentioned their expertise in 'lite willow making' in India's bat manufacturing industry and disagreed with Tramboo Sports' claim of exclusive manufacturing capabilities.
Fawazul Kabir from the Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association of Kashmir (CBMAK) said that Tramboo Sports allegedly presented Alfa Sports' cricket willows as their own product on Shark Tank India.
The company has demanded a public apology from Sony TV and Tramboo Sports for allegedly misrepresenting their vendor relationship and breaching contracts. CBMAK's Kabir questions Tramboo Sports' assertions, citing the presence of 400 manufacturing units in Kashmir and government-supported initiatives for willow technology.
Tramboo Sports clarified that they did not assert exclusive manufacturing rights, but rather operate through contract manufacturing as a direct-to-consumer brand.
The company received notable recognition on Shark Tank India, as all judges expressed interest in investing in the company. Peyush Bansal, the co-founder and CEO of Lenskart, along with Aman Gupta, the cofounder and CMO of boAt, collectively pledged to invest INR 30 Lakh for a 4 per cent equity stake in the company.
