Competition Commission of India (CCI) has directed seventeen (17) Opposite Parties to cease and desist from anti- competitive practices in relation to tenders invited by Assam Police Housing Corporation Limited for “Internal and External Electrification works in Police Station Buildings” across the State of Assam.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), vide an order dated 07.04.2026 issued under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002 (‘Act’) has directed M/s Purbanchal Enterprise and others to cease and desist from anti- competitive conduct found to be in violation of Sections 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1) of the Act.

The present proceedings arose out of a complaint dated 10.08.2020 from the Office of the Accountant General (Audit), Assam, alleging bid rigging in tenders floated by the Assam Police Housing Corporation Limited for ‘Internal and External Electrification Works in the Police Station Buildings’ (‘Impugned Tenders’)under Mission of Overall Improvement of Thana for Responsive Image Scheme of Government of Assam across the State of Assam.

Based on the evidence, the Commission found the Opposite Parties to have indulged in bid-rigging by way of bid-rotation and/or cover bidding, with the intent to manipulate the tender process in order to reduce the competitive intensity of the entire bidding process in the impugned tenders.

The finding of bid-rigging in relation to all the OPs, is premised on the evaluation of evidence in the form of identical mistakes in bid submissions, identical IP addresses, CDR details, DDs with consecutive numbers, etc.

Accordingly, the Commission, in terms of Section 27 (a) of the Act, directed the OPs and their respective proprietors who have been held liable in terms of the provisions of Section 48 of the Act, to cease and desist from indulging in practices which have been found to be in contravention of the provisions of Section 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1) of the Act.

The order was passed in Suo-Motu Case No.03 of 2021 and a copy is available on the CCI website at www.cci.gov.in.

Bid rigging in public tenders led to cease-and-desist directions for anti-competitive conduct and proprietor liability. The Competition Commission of India directed seventeen opposite parties to cease and desist from anti-competitive conduct in tenders for internal and external electrification works in police station buildings across Assam. The proceedings concerned alleged bid rigging by bid rotation and cover bidding, supported by identical mistakes in bids, identical IP addresses, call detail record details, and consecutive demand draft numbers, and the Commission acted under Section 27 for contravention of Section 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1), with proprietors also held liable under Section 48.