The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has sought additional details from a petitioner alleging anti-competitive practices by quick commerce platforms Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto, during its ongoing review of a petition.
According to a report by NDTV Profit that cited people familiar with the matter, the CCI has asked the petitioner to provide further inputs on claims relating to market dominance, pricing strategies, and operational practices of the three companies.
The request specifically covers the petitioner’s claims of deep discounting and other business irregularities that could fall under certain provisions of the Competition Act, 2002.
The petition was filed in March by a FMCG distributors’ body. The matter had originated when the members of All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation alleged that the three companies engaged in practices that could restrict competition in the quick commerce segment.
While the CCI has not yet ordered a formal investigation, sources told NDTV Profit, the Commission will consider an application to inspect company records after reviewing the fresh submissions from the petitioner. The proceedings are still in the initial review phase, during which the Commission is gathering evidence to determine if a full probe is warranted.
The CCI typically examines whether a complaint reveals prima facie violations of competition law before directing it for a detailed investigation by its director general. If admitted, this case would join a series of high-profile antitrust probes involving online retailers
