The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court against the Karnataka high court order earlier this year, which granted an interim stay on the regulator’s probe on Flipkart and Amazon India.
The antitrust body filed a special leave petition at the apex court last month, according to listings at SC. The next course of action will depend on once the court hears the matter, which is expected to be later this week but a date is yet to be finalised.
CCI had ordered a probe in January against the two largest e-tailers following complaints from trade bodies Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh (DVM). This included allegations of e-tailers practising deep discounts, favourable terms to select sellers. The probe was ordered just days before Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos landed in India on a business trip.
The regulator had said it had ‘prima facie’ evidence to begin a probe under section 26 (1). Amazon India first challenged the matter where its rival Flipkart was a party to it and both of them submitted in Karnataka High Court that CCI did not have adequate prima facie evidence to start such a probe. The HC then granted the interim stay on the probe in February.
Meanwhile, TOI reported in August saying a new antitrust case against Amazon India has been filed with CCI accusing it of anti-competitive practises. CCI has admitted the complaint but the regulator yet to come out with its order.
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