Court Restrains Way2News From Using AppsForBharat Data

A Bengaluru commercial court has issued a temporary injunction against hyperlocal news startup Way2News, restraining it from using confidential information and intellectual property belonging to AppsForBharat, the operator of the Sri Mandir spiritual tech platform. The ad-interim ex parte order was passed on September 10 in a suit filed by AppsForBharat against Way2News and a former AppsForBharat employee, Shivam Kumar Singh.

According to court filings accessed by Inc42, the dispute centers on allegations that Singh, after resigning from AppsForBharat in early August 2026, shared confidential data with his new employer, Way2News. The court's order restrains Way2News, its directors, employees, and agents from using AppsForBharat's confidential information, intellectual property, and other data allegedly received from Singh until the next hearing. Since the order was granted ex parte, Way2News and Singh were not heard before the interim relief was issued.

The Core Allegations

AppsForBharat alleges that Shivam Kumar Singh, who worked as a senior operations associate coordinating with priests and managing pooja operations, resigned on August 3, 2026. The startup claims that on August 25, one of its employees received a request from Singh seeking access to the company's Google Drive, a request allegedly sent from a Way2News email address. AppsForBharat stated this drive contained videos, marketing material, operational and financial data, and details of suppliers and customers.

The plaintiff further alleges that Singh joined Way2News in violation of a non-compete clause in his employment agreement. AppsForBharat also accuses Way2News's competing spiritual platform, Veda Mandir, of publishing promotional videos identical to its own marketing material created for Sri Mandir.

The Court's Limited Injunction

While granting the injunction against the use of confidential data, the court declined to issue two other injunctions sought by AppsForBharat without first hearing the defendants. AppsForBharat had sought separate orders to restrain Way2News from allegedly soliciting its employees and customers. The court instead issued notices to the defendants on these points. It is key to note that the interim order does not represent a final finding of data theft or copyright infringement.

AppsForBharat has filed a comprehensive suit seeking significant redress. The company is demanding the return of all its confidential material and a permanent injunction against its misuse. It also seeks a permanent injunction to prevent the solicitation of its employees and customers. Also, AppsForBharat has asked the court to order an account of revenue allegedly generated through the unauthorized use of its data. The startup is claiming INR 1 crore in compensation for alleged losses and breaches of contract.

The Startups and Their Funding

The case pits two venture-backed startups against each other in India's growing spiritual technology market. A comparison of their key details is below:

Founded in 2020, AppsForBharat's Sri Mandir app allows users to book online pujas, receive prasad, and access devotional content. Way2News, founded in 2015, initially focused on short-format hyperlocal news before expanding into spiritual services with Veda Mandir, which help temple offerings. Inc42 reported it has reached out to both companies for comment and will update the story upon receiving a response.