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India’s CCI Dismisses Bid Rigging
Allegations Against HP and its authorized resellers.
In a recent development, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), through an order dated 04 February 2025, dismissed allegations of bid rigging and cartelization against HP India Sales Private Limited (HP) and its authorized resellers.The complaint centered on claims of collusive bidding in tenders issued by two local development authorities for the procurement of inkjet and LED printers with a five-year extended warranty. The informant alleged that HP and its resellers manipulated bid prices, coordinated submissions, and designed participation strategies to favour HP products—while also accusing them of excluding other global players like Canon India and Epson India through restrictive tender specifications.
However, the CCI found no evidence of anti-competitive conduct. It noted that five bidders participated in one tender and four in the other, with each quoting different HP models—contradicting the claims of bid coordination. The Commission reiterated its stance that procurement bodies have the authority to define product specifications and adopt sourcing and pricing mechanisms in line with their commercial needs and budgetary constraints. There was no indication that the bidding process was manipulated or that prices were artificially inflated.
The decision reinforces the CCI’s emphasis on evidence-based assessment while recognizing the discretion of public authorities in procurement processes.
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