CCI fines agro input associations for cartelisation

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Friday imposed monetary and non-monetary sanctions on Agro Input Dealers Association (AIDA), Agro Input Welfare Association (AIWA), Manmohan C. Kalantri, and Arvindbhai Jerambhai Patel for indulging in cartelisation.

The Commission found that the AIDA, the AIWA, Kalantri, and Patel have acted in contravention of the provisions of the Competition Act, and accordingly, in terms of Section 27(a) of the Act, directed them and their respective officials, AIDA General Secretary Pravinbhai Patel, and national spokesperson Sanjay Kumar Raghuwanshi, who have been found liable in terms of provisions of Section 48, to cease and desist in future from indulging in conduct found to be in contravention of the law’s provisions, according to an official statement.

After considering the nature and gravity of the contravention along with assessment of mitigating and aggravating factors, the CCI also imposed a monetary penalty amounting to Rs 81,889 on the AIDA, Rs 3,92,269 on the AIWA, Rs 4,98,903 on Kalantri, Rs 74,717 on Arvindbhai Patel, Rs 9,177 on Pravinbhai Patel and Rs 8,622 on Raghuwanshi, respectively, the statement said.

Further, the Commission, in terms of Section 27(g) of the Act, also directed them to organise a competition compliance training programme in order to spread awareness about competition laws and to promote a culture of competition compliance within their associations.

In a separate case, the CCI imposed a penalty of Rs 1,29,901 on Rekha Agencies and Rs 2,13,274 on SS Marketing for indulging in anti-competitive conduct in a Himachal Pradesh tender for the procurement of tyres.

It also directed Rekha Agencies and SS Marketing to cease and desist from anti-competitive conduct found to be in violation of the Competition Act.

Based on the contemporaneous exchange of emails containing commercially sensitive information regarding price bids before the submission of bids, the Commission found that Rekha Agencies and SS Marketing acted in a concerted manner amounting to bid rigging in Himachal Pradesh Tender 2013, thereby contravening the provisions of the Competition Act.

The CCI also found an official of Rekha Agencies liable under Section 48 of the Act and imposed a monetary penalty upon him. However, no penalty has been imposed on the official of SS Marketing as proceedings against him stood abated due to his unfortunate demise, the statement added.

–IANS

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