23 Jul 2026
Why HP’s whistleblowing didn’t shield it from big CCI fines
23 Jul 2026
23 Jul 2026
This is a link-enhanced version of an article that first appeared in Moneycontrol
Article Overview:
The article examines why HP India was fined ₹139 crore by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) despite voluntarily disclosing a bid-rigging cartel under the regulator’s leniency regime. It explores the discretionary nature of penalty reductions in India, compares the framework with global jurisdictions, and highlights the broader policy debate on whether the current regime provides adequate incentives for companies to self-report anti-competitive conduct.
Our Partner, Aparna Mehra, shared her perspective. Here’s what she had to say:
“Since the inception of leniency regime, the CCI has received over 20 leniency applications, and more often than not, it has granted a 100% penalty reduction to the first leniency applicant. In one case, even though the leniency application was filed at a relatively later stage, after the CCI had already commenced its investigation into a cartel in the paper manufacturing industry, the applicant was still granted a 100% reduction in penalty on account of the information and cooperation provided by the applicant.”
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