On 3 February 2022, the Competition Commission of India (CCI)
passed an order under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002
(Act), imposing a penalty of INR 12.447 million on seven entities
for bid rigging in supply of signages for branches/offices/ATMs of
State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest public sector
bank.1
Background
Pursuant to a complaint alleging bid-rigging in a tender floated
by SBI Infra Management Solutions Private Limited (SBIIMS) for
supply and installation of new signages/replacement of existing
signages for branches/offices/ATMs of SBI located at metro centres
of its circles across India (Tender), the CCI took suo
motu cognizance of the complaint and directed the Director
General (DG) to investigate the allegations. During the pendency of
the investigation, Avery Dennison Private Limited (ADPL) applied
for leniency under Section 46 of the Act read with the CCI (Lesser
Penalty) Regulations, 2009 (LPR).
