CCI warns staff over unauthorised media contacts, information disclosure

New Delhi, Aug 22, 2024 

CCI is investigating high-profile companies and reviewing deals involving the likes of Amazon, Walmart's Flipkart, Reliance, Walt Disney and liquor maker Pernod Ricard

India's antitrust watchdog has warned staff in an internal memo not to share any information with the media when they are not authorized to do so, citing a 60-year-old rule that prohibits such interactions, a document shows.

"It has been observed that of late certain information related to the cases (under review) are published/available in the media ... this has been viewed very seriously," the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in an Aug. 20 memo to all staff, which was seen by Reuters.

CCI chairperson Ravneet Kaur did not respond to Reuters queries on the memo.

The CCI is investigating high-profile companies and reviewing deals involving the likes of Amazon, Walmart's Flipkart, Reliance, Walt Disney and liquor maker Pernod Ricard.

On Tuesday, Reuters reported the CCI had reached an initial assessment that the $8.5 billion Indian merger of Reliance and Disney media assets harms competition due to their power over cricket broadcast rights, and had been sent a warning notice.

Earlier this month, the CCI also privately took an unusual step of recalling two reports that detailed alleged breaches of competition law by Apple, Reuters has reported.

The internal CCI staff memo also said disciplinary action can be taken for non-compliance with the rules, adding that they also apply to officers even after they leave the CCI.

The memo cited a 1964 government rule that says "no government servant shall, except in accordance with general or special order .... communicate, directly or indirectly, any official document or any part thereof or information."

[Reuters]