The Competition commission of India (CCI) has imposed penalty on HP India and its certain resellers for indulging in anti-competitive practices in supply of Supplies products.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), vide an order dated 13.07.2026 issued under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002, (the Act) has imposed a penalty of INR 11.98 crores on HP India and a combined penalty of INR 2.30 crores approximately, on its sixteen resellers for indulging in cartelisation in sale and supply of supplies products comprising of toner, cartridges and other consumable used with print hardware products.

 The Commission also directed HP India and its resellers 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 proceedings arose from the lesser penalty application filed by HP India under Section 46 of the Act 19(1)(a) of the Act, alleging cartelisation among HP India and its resellers. Based on the evidence on record, the Commission found sixteen Tier-2 resellers of HP India viz.

DD Enterprises, Ascent Information, Kaypee Enterprises, Britex Enterprises, Alankar Distributors, Vijay Stationery Mart, G R Enterprises, Perfect Innovative, Khandelwal Traders, A Square Technologies, Innovative Solutions, Pioneer Technologies, Delphi Infosolutions, Shakti Marketing, International Computer Resources and Arms Peripherals to have indulged in seeking and submitting support/cover bids in contravention of Section 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1) of the Act.

The Commission also found HP India to have played central role in the cartel arrangement among these resellers in contravention of Section 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1) of the Act. The CCI also found the officials of HP India and its resellers liable under Section 48 of the Act and imposed monetary penalty upon them. 

The order was passed in Suo Moto Case No. 08 of 2020 and a copy of the same is available on the CCI website at www.cci.gov.in.

Reseller cover bids and coordinated supplies sales treated as cartelisation, with penalties and cease-and-desist directions imposed The Competition Commission of India addressed cartelisation in the sale and supply of toner, cartridges and other consumables used with print hardware products. Sixteen Tier-2 resellers were identified as having sought and submitted support or cover bids, contrary to Sections 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. HP India was identified as playing a central role in the arrangement. Monetary penalties were imposed on HP India, the resellers and relevant officials under Section 48, together with directions to cease and desist from the anti-competitive conduct.