CCI Penalises Rekha Agencies And SS Marketing For Bid Rigging In Himachal Pradesh Tyre Tender

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 21 August imposed penalties on Rekha Agencies and SS Marketing for engaging in anti-competitive conduct in a 2013 Himachal Pradesh tender for procurement of tyres.

The Commission found that the two entities had exchanged commercially sensitive information relating to their price bids through emails before submitting them. It held that their coordinated conduct amounted to bid rigging in contravention of Sections 3(3)(d) read with 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002.

It imposed a penalty of Rs. 1.29 lakh on Rekha Agencies and Rs. 2.13 lakh on SS Marketing. It also directed both entities to cease and desist from engaging in such anti-competitive conduct.

Further, the CCI held an official of Rekha Agencies liable under Section 48 of the Competition Act, which provides for liability of individuals responsible for a company's contravention, and imposed a monetary penalty on him. Proceedings against the concerned official of SS Marketing stood abated following his demise.