The Competition Commission of India fines eleven suppliers of rubber soles for engaging in bid rigging by fixing tender prices, limiting supplies and market sharing (Puja Enterprises)

SUMMARY The Competition Commission of India found that eleven suppliers of rubber soles had engaged in bid rigging, through price-fixing, limiting supplies and market sharing, in a tender floated by the Director General (Supplies & Disposals), in breach of Section 3 of the Competition Act, 2002. Breach was established on the basis of circumstantial evidence. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a penalty at the rate of 5% on the average of the last three years’ turnover on each of the suppliers for violating Sections 3 of the Competition Act. Background: The Director General (Supplies and Disposals) (DGS&D) filed a reference with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) alleging that eleven suppliers of rubber soles (Suppliers) had engaged in bid rigging and