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New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India told the Delhi High Court on Friday that Google’s plea against the alleged leak of confidential investigative information was completely false and an attempt to thwart proceedings related to its Android smartphone agreements.
Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, representing the CCI, said the commission stood by the legal obligation with regard to maintaining confidentiality and clarified that there was no lapse on the part of the body.
There are allegations against a government body and there is not a word (in Google’s affidavit) indicating when and how it was done… they are trying to sabotage the proceedings. He said that if they are angry with this then they should file a case against (media).
They want the process to be foiled, said ASG Venkataraman, who also told the court that one of the Google executives wrote to the CCI president saying we will sue you.
Justice Rekha Palli said she does not appreciate the US-based tech giant approaching the authority directly.
If they want to work in the country then they should know the law. I don’t appreciate it… If he feels so strongly, he should have addressed the letter to the Registrar (of the CCI), the judge said.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Google, highlighted that the allegedly leaked information was only with the Director General, who forwards it to the CCI, and no one else including the parties knows about it. .
Please refer to the habitual defaulter. Leakage is happening every day… Defame the dog and hang him by selective leakage, the senior counsel urged the court to pass an order to protect his client from further prejudice.
They argued that the CCI order, on Google’s appeal against the DG’s order on confidentiality claims, was passed without following the principles of natural justice.
The senior counsel said let them say till Monday that they will not allow any more leaks.
Don’t put words in his mouth. You don’t give me DG order (and with respect to confidentiality claim) today you want an order from me, the judge said adding that the matter has been listed for further hearing on September 27.
Google had said in a statement that on September 18, 2021, a confidential interim fact-finding report submitted to the CCI by the DG’s office relating to the investigation into Google’s Android smartphone agreements was leaked to the media.
The company said it has petitioned the court to seek redress of its complaint, specifically protesting a breach of trust that undermines Google’s ability to defend itself and harms it and its affiliates. .
According to reports, the CCI investigation has found that Google has allegedly abused its dominant position and indulged in unfair practices with respect to the mobile operating system Android.
In early 2019, the watchdog ordered a detailed investigation against Google in this regard, after it prima facie discovered alleged violations of competition norms.
As per the procedure, the CCI will closely analyze the investigation report and seek the views and submissions of the concerned parties before passing the order.
Read also: Google reaches Delhi High Court against CCI over ‘leaked’ investigation report
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