CCI Orders Ludhiana Firms to Stop Anti-Competitive Practices
ECONOMY & POLICY

CCI Orders Ludhiana Firms to Stop Anti-Competitive Practices

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has directed KKK Mills, Ludhiana, and  Sankeshwar Synthetics, Ludhiana, to cease and desist from anti-competitive practices after finding them in violation of provisions of the Competition Act, 2002.

In an order dated January 2, 2026, issued under Section 27 of the Act, the CCI held that the two entities had engaged in conduct contravening Section 3(3)(d), read with Section 3(1), which prohibits agreements resulting in bid rigging or collusive bidding.

The case originated from a reference filed under Section 19(1)(b) of the Act by the Competition Policy (CP) Cell of the Master General of Ordnance Branch, Directorate General of Ordnance Services. The reference alleged that KKK Mills and Sankeshwar Synthetics had entered into an agreement that led to collusive bidding in a tender floated for the procurement of woollen underpants.

After examining the material on record, the Commission observed that both firms had quoted identical prices in the tender. It also noted similarities in the timing of submission of financial and commercial bids, as well as comparable patterns of conduct in previous tenders. These factors, the CCI said, collectively established the existence of concerted action between the two bidders.

Based on these findings, the Commission concluded that the conduct amounted to bid rigging, in violation of the Competition Act. In addition to holding the firms liable, the CCI also found the partner of KKK Mills and the director of Sankeshwar Synthetics responsible under Section 48 of the Act, which deals with the liability of individuals in charge of the conduct of a company’s business.

The order reinforces the CCI’s stance against collusive practices in public procurement and underscores its commitment to ensuring fair competition and transparency in government tenders.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has directed KKK Mills, Ludhiana, and  Sankeshwar Synthetics, Ludhiana, to cease and desist from anti-competitive practices after finding them in violation of provisions of the Competition Act, 2002.In an order dated January 2, 2026, issued under Section 27 of the Act, the CCI held that the two entities had engaged in conduct contravening Section 3(3)(d), read with Section 3(1), which prohibits agreements resulting in bid rigging or collusive bidding.The case originated from a reference filed under Section 19(1)(b) of the Act by the Competition Policy (CP) Cell of the Master General of Ordnance Branch, Directorate General of Ordnance Services. The reference alleged that KKK Mills and Sankeshwar Synthetics had entered into an agreement that led to collusive bidding in a tender floated for the procurement of woollen underpants.After examining the material on record, the Commission observed that both firms had quoted identical prices in the tender. It also noted similarities in the timing of submission of financial and commercial bids, as well as comparable patterns of conduct in previous tenders. These factors, the CCI said, collectively established the existence of concerted action between the two bidders.Based on these findings, the Commission concluded that the conduct amounted to bid rigging, in violation of the Competition Act. In addition to holding the firms liable, the CCI also found the partner of KKK Mills and the director of Sankeshwar Synthetics responsible under Section 48 of the Act, which deals with the liability of individuals in charge of the conduct of a company’s business.The order reinforces the CCI’s stance against collusive practices in public procurement and underscores its commitment to ensuring fair competition and transparency in government tenders.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code