CCI fines HP India Rs 142.37 crore for bid‑rigging

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on July 13, 2026 imposed aggregate penalties of Rs 142.37 crore on HP India Sales Private Limited and multiple authorised resellers. The sanctions arise from findings of cartelisation and bid‑rigging in government procurement conducted through the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM). The regulator concluded that the coordinated conduct distorted competition in tenders for both personal system products and printer consumables.

The commission’s action was structured through two separate orders addressing distinct product categories. In each matter, HP India and specified channel partners were found to have entered into anti‑competitive arrangements in violation of Sections 3(3)(d) read with 3(1) of the Competition Act. The CCI combined corporate penalties with findings of personal liability for certain officials involved in the conduct.

In the first order, the CCI examined tenders on GeM for personal system products, including laptops, desktops, workstations and related accessories. For this segment, the regulator imposed a penalty of Rs 126.87 crore on HP India. Five resellers were also penalised with a combined financial sanction of about Rs 1.22 crore.

The commission found that HP India played a central role in facilitating and monitoring the arrangements among resellers. Evidence showed the company directed specific bid prices to channel partners and influenced which resellers participated in particular tenders. By managing these elements, the parties were able to coordinate submissions in a way that undermined genuine price competition on the platform.

The second order addressed cartelisation in the sale and supply of printer consumables, including toner and ink cartridges and related supplies. In this matter, the CCI imposed a penalty of Rs 11.98 crore on HP India. A further combined penalty of about Rs 2.30 crore was levied on 16 resellers named in the order, including firms such as DD Enterprises, Ascent Information, Kaypee Enterprises, Britex Enterprises, Alankar Distributors and others.

The regulator held that HP India and these resellers coordinated bids for printer consumable tenders on GeM. As in the personal systems case, HP India’s conduct in guiding bids and managing partner participation was found to enable cover or support bids. These bids created an appearance of competition while protecting agreed commercial outcomes.

Both proceedings originated from lesser‑penalty applications filed by HP India under Section 46 of the Competition Act. Under the leniency framework, the CCI granted reductions in penalties to HP India in each case and to reseller Delphi Infosolutions in one instance. Despite these reductions, the commission held HP India and the implicated resellers to be in contravention of the Act.

The CCI also applied Section 48 of the Competition Act to hold certain officials of HP India and of the reseller firms personally liable. Alongside monetary penalties, the orders require the parties to cease and desist from the anti‑competitive conduct. At least one order directs that penalties be paid within 60 days and mandates competition‑law compliance training, with reporting obligations back to the regulator.