Lok Sabha Question No. 3926 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Complaints regarding Predatory Pricing of e-Commerce Companies
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3926

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2018

## COMPLAINTS REGARDING PREDATORY PRICING OF E-COMMERCE COMPANIES

3926.  SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

## Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received complaints regarding e-commerce firms and online cab aggregators engaging in predatory pricing;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  complaints  received  in  this  regard  during  the  last  two  years  and  the further action contemplated by the Government;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  planning  comprehensive  changes  in  India's  competition  law  to check the cases of predatory pricing; and
- (d) if so, the details and the status thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

3

(a)&(b) : Yes, Madam. The Competition Commission of India(CCI) has received information/complaints regarding e-commerce firms and online cab aggregators engaging in predatory pricing.  Details of complaints against e-commerce firms and online cab aggregators received during last two years are cited as under:

| Case No.& Date of filing   | Informant and Opposite Parties                                          | Information regarding             | Present Status of Case                                                                      |
|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 34/2016                    | Mr. Deepak Verma v. Ms Clues Network(P) Ltd & Ors                       | e-Commerce firm                   | Case closed at prima facie stage under S. 26(2) of the Competition Act, 2002 on 26.07.2016. |
| 25/2017 05.06.2017         | Meru Travel Solutions(P) Limited v. M/s. ANI Technologies(P) Ltd & Ors. | Online Cab Aggregator (Hyderabad) | Due to confidentiality requests by OLA and UBER and the                                     |
| 26/2017 05.06.2017         | Meru Travel Solutions(P) Limited v. M/s. ANI Technologies(P) Ltd & Ors. | Online Cab Aggregator (Mumbai)    | extensions sought by the parties, CCI is                                                    |
| 27/2017 05.06.2017         | Meru Travel Solutions(P) Limited v. M/s. ANI Technologies(P) Ltd & Ors. | Online Cab Aggregator (Kolkata)   | yet to form prima facie opinion in these cases. The                                         |
| 28/2017 07.06.2017         | Meru Travel Solutions(P) Limited v. M/s. ANI Technologies(P) Ltd & Ors. | Online Cab Aggregator (Chennai)   | hearing in these cases is scheduled on 02.05.2018.                                          |

Four cases regarding Online Cab Aggregators in different Geographic Markets, as cited in the table  given  above,  will  be  examined  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the Competition Act, 2002 and Regulations made thereunder as after following due process. (c) &(d) :  No such changes in the Competition Act are presently contemplated

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