Competition Comm slaps Rs 14 cr penalties on HP India, 16 resellers

New Delhi, Jul 13 (PTI) The Competition Commission has slapped penalties totalling Rs 14.28 crore on technology company HP India and its 16 resellers for unfair business practices in the sale and supply of items related to print hardware products. ​ The company and the resellers have also been directed to cease and desist from anti-competitive practices. ​ A penalty of Rs 11.98 crore has been imposed on HP India, while the fines slapped on the 16 resellers amount to around Rs 2.30 crore. Officials of HP India and its resellers have also been penalised, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in a release on Monday. ​ They have been fined for "indulging in cartelisation in the sale and supply of items comprising toner, cartridges and other consumables used with print hardware products", the regulator said. ​ The latest ruling has come on a suo moto case that was taken up by the watchdog in 2020. ​ According to CCI, HP India played a central role in the cartel arrangement among these resellers in contravention of the competition norms. “The proceedings arose from the lesser penalty application filed by HP India under Section 46 of the Act 19(1)(a) of the Act, alleging cartelisation among HP India and its resellers," CCI said and added that based on evidence on record, it found the 16 Tier-2 resellers of HP India violating the norms. ​ The 16 entities are DD Enterprises, Ascent Information, Kaypee Enterprises, Britex Enterprises, Alankar Distributors, Vijay Stationery Mart, G R Enterprises, Perfect Innovative, Khandelwal Traders, A Square Technologies, Innovative Solutions, Pioneer Technologies, Delphi Infosolutions, Shakti Marketing, International Computer Resources and Arms Peripherals, according to the release. PTI RAM SHM