K'taka HC dismisses Amazon, Flipkart pleas to quash probe

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed pleas by Amazon and Flipkart to quash an antitrust investigation against them.

The order was pronounced by Justice PS Dinesh Kumar.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had launched a probe in January 2020 against both the firms following a complaint that the firms promote “preferred sellers” of goods on their platforms, which may have hurt smaller rivals.

The Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh (DVM), a group representing small and medium business owners in the national capital had submitted the plea.

DVM raised the issue of exclusive smartphone launches on these platforms in violation of the Indian rules for marketplaces.

The court also dismissed the plea of Flipkart’s senior counsel for a two weeks extension of the interim order.