In pharmaceuticals sector, the Commission has imposed a penalty of ₹ 55,01,710/- in four cases. Further, in two cases, penalties ranging from 7% - 10% of the turnover have also been imposed on some office bearers of (i) Bengal Chemists & Druggist Association and (ii) Chemists & Druggist Association, Ferozepur (Punjab). In Cement Sector, the CCI has imposed cumulative penalties amounting to ₹ 6714.83 crore on 11 cement companies and the Cement Manufacturers’ Association. In the Petroleum Sector, the Commission has referred the matter of fixing of petrol price by Oil Marketing Companies for investigation to Director General, CCI. However, the matter has been stayed by the Delhi High Court. No investigation on issue of cartelisation in telecom sectors is under progress.

This was stated by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, MoS in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Cartelisation enforcement: penalties imposed across pharmaceuticals, cement and investigations referred for petroleum pricing, and sectoral probes continue. Cartelisation enforcement led to monetary penalties against firms and turnover based penalties on association office bearers in pharmaceuticals, cumulative penalties against cement manufacturers and an industry association, and a referral of alleged coordinated petrol pricing to the Director General for investigation, with that investigation stayed; no telecom cartel investigations were reported.