Sugar mills' parallel pricing insufficient for cartel; "plus factors" of collusion required. Independent business decisions prevail.

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....Price parallelism alone cannot establish a cartel u/s 3(3)(a) of the Competition Act, 2002. Evidence of parallel pricing must be supplemented with "plus factors" demonstrating conscious conduct rather than independent business decisions. In the present case, the limited evidence of exchange of calls between sugar mills and the industry association is insufficient to establish a contravention. No case of violation can be made out against any party, and the matters are directed to be closed forthwith. The order does not qualify for confidential treatment u/s 57 of the Act.....