New Delhi | July 2, 2026
The Delhi High Court has granted ad-interim relief in a commercial dispute between Florida-based technology startup I-Chrono LLC and Delhi-based software development company Fluper Limited, I-Chrono LLC is represented in the matter by King Stubb & Kasiva (KSK). The court has restrained Fluper Limited and its directors namely, Anshul Sharma, Anita Raj and Richa Sharma from dealing with software source code that I-Chrono claims it is contractually entitled to receive under software development agreements executed between the parties.
By an Order dated July 2, 2026, the Delhi High Court restrained Fluper Limited, its directors, employees, agents and persons acting on its behalf from using, reproducing, deploying, distributing, transferring or otherwise dealing with the disputed source code pending further proceedings. The Court also directed preservation of the source code and related electronic records, including storage media, system logs, configuration files, installation data and associated digital material.
In addition, the Court directed that the disputed source code and all related electronic data be maintained in their existing condition until further orders. Notice was issued to Fluper Limited, Anshul Sharma, Anita Raj and Richa Sharma.
While granting interim protection, the Court recorded the I-Chrono’s apprehension that misuse, copying or destruction of the source code could result in harm that “cannot be reversed or compensated monetarily.” Taking note of the material placed before it at the interim stage, the Court considered it appropriate to preserve the subject matter of the dispute pending adjudication of the parties’ contractual claims.
Background
According to the plaint, I-Chrono engaged Fluper Limited in January 2025 for the end-to-end design and development of a consumer-facing mobile application and web platform for an online luxury watch marketplace intended to operate across thirty-two countries. The parties entered into a milestone-based software development arrangement under which corresponding source code, project files and related materials were to be delivered upon completion of each development milestone.
I-Chrono has alleged that the engagement was structured as a work-for-hire arrangement under which all software, source code and related work product developed during the project would vest exclusively in I-Chrono. According to the plaint, delivery of the source code formed a central contractual obligation of Fluper, enabling I-Chrono to independently host, maintain and continue development of the platform.
According to the suit, I-Chrono made complete payments under the first agreement through multiple instalments between March 2025 and November 2025. It alleges that although software development continued over several months and multiple iterations were delivered, the platform continued to suffer from recurring technical deficiencies requiring repeated testing and revisions. I-Chrono further contends that despite completion of development milestones and repeated requests under the first agreement, the agreed source code and related project materials were not delivered in accordance with the contractual arrangement.
The Suit also refers to a second agreement executed in February 2026 concerning development of an artificial intelligence-based luxury watch authentication and scanning feature intended to complement the marketplace platform based on I-Chrono’s concept note and idea. According to I-Chrono, it paid additional sums under this engagement. I-Chrono alleges that the AI functionality did not perform as intended during testing and was unable to reliably identify luxury watches.
According to I-Chrono, after it sought suspension of the projects and requested delivery of the source code and related project materials, those materials were not released by Fluper. The Suit alleges that delivery of the source code was instead linked to further payments under the second agreement, ultimately resulting in the institution of the present proceedings before the Delhi High Court.
I-Chrono’s Case
I-Chrono contends that the software platform and the AI-powered authentication feature formed integral components of its proposed commercial rollout and fundraising strategy.
According to the Suit, prospective investors sought a working demonstration of the platform, including the AI authentication functionality, before making investment commitments. However, the delays in completion of the software and the absence of an operational AI feature affected its ability to demonstrate the platform as intended and resulted in the loss of a proposed investment opportunities.
The Suit also refers to a meeting held in March 2026 involving representatives of I-Chrono, Fluper and an independent UX/UI audit firm engaged to review the progress of the project. According to I-Chrono, the meeting involved a detailed assessment of both the marketplace platform and the AI functionality. I-Chrono also relies upon what it describes as a recorded statement made during the meeting by Fluper acknowledging that the source code belonged to the I-Chrono and could be delivered at any time upon request.
Apart from the alleged loss of investor interest, I-Chrono claims to have suffered commercial losses arising from delays in deployment of the platform, expenditure incurred on technology infrastructure and marketing, and the inability to commercially launch the proposed marketplace within the anticipated timeline.
Interim Order
The Suit seeks permanent and mandatory injunctions, damages of multiple crores, rendition of accounts and directions for delivery of the source code and related project materials being illegally withheld by Fluper to I-Chrono.
After considering the material placed before it, the Court granted ad-interim relief restraining the Fluper and its directors from using, reproducing, deploying, distributing, transferring or otherwise dealing with the disputed source code pending further orders. The Court also directed preservation of electronic records associated with the project, including storage media, system logs, configuration files, software images, installation data, internal communications and related digital records, with a view to maintaining the existing state of affairs during the pendency of the proceedings.
The order is intended to preserve the subject matter of the dispute until the contractual issues raised in the suit are finally adjudicated. The proceedings raise important issues concerning contractual obligations in software development engagements, including delivery of source code, preservation of electronic records, and the scope of interim relief available where digital assets are alleged to be at risk pending resolution of commercial disputes.
The interim order reinforces the Delhi High Court’s role as an effective commercial forum for preserving the subject matter of cross-border technology disputes pending adjudication. As international businesses increasingly engage Indian technology service providers for software development projects, the order highlights the availability of prompt interim judicial protection in appropriate cases involving contractual disputes over source code and other digital assets.
