The competition regulator found HP India and five resellers colluded to manipulate bidding for personal system products on the Government e-Marketplace.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of INR 1.27 billion on HP India after finding the company guilty of anti-competitive practices in the sale and supply of personal system products. Five of the company’s resellers have also been collectively fined around INR 12.2 million for their involvement.
In an order issued on July 13, 2026, under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002, the regulator held that HP India and the five resellers had engaged in cartelisation, violating Sections 3(3)(d) read with Section 3(1) of the Act. The CCI has directed all parties to cease and desist from the anti-competitive conduct.
The case stemmed from a lesser penalty application filed by HP India under Section 46 of the Competition Act. During its investigation, the Commission examined evidence relating to bidding practices in Government e-Marketplace (GeM) tenders.
The CCI found that HP India influenced the bidding process by directing resellers on bid prices and controlling their participation in GeM tenders through the selective issuance of authorisation letters. According to the regulator, these practices distorted competition and enabled coordinated bidding.
The Commission also found that five resellers—Delphi Infosolutions, Digitech Computers, Orbit Techsol, Hind Technocare, and Krishna Computers—colluded with HP India in carrying out the anti-competitive arrangement.
In addition to penalising the companies, the CCI imposed monetary penalties on certain officials of HP India and the five reseller firms under Section 48 of the Competition Act for their role in the violations.
The order was issued in suo moto case no. 07 of 2020, and the detailed ruling has been made available on the Competition Commission of India’s website.
