The Indian Competition Authority refrains from imposing fines and imposes a cease and desist order on multiple rail companies found guilty for cartelization but avoids fining due to companies’ size and the economic impact of COVID-19 (Chief Materials Manager, South Eastern Railway / Hindustan Composites)

Following references by procurement officials of a number of railway companies, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) found that 10 suppliers of composite brake blocks had, at least from 2009 to 2017, engaged in cartelization, by means of directly or indirectly determining prices, allocating markets, coordinating bid responses and