Chandhiok & Mahajan and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas secure victory for BookMyShow in CCI’s investigation into alleged abuse of dominance
The leading law firms in India, Chandhiok & Mahajan and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas successfully defended BookMyShow before the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which closed proceedings brought against the company in relation to allegations of abuse of dominant position in the market for online intermediation services for booking of movie tickets in India.
CCI’s Findings
The CCI concluded that, despite BookMyShow holding a dominant position in the market for online intermediation services for booking of movie tickets in India, there was no evidence of contravention of the Competition Act, 2002. Consequently, the matter was closed.
Key Issues Examined
Specifically, the Commission rejected the Director General’s findings on denial of market access through exclusive agreements, discriminatory practices in revenue sharing, and abuse of dominance through seat quota reservation and data ownership.
Oral Submissions
Oral submissions were jointly advanced by Arun Kathpalia (Senior Advocate) and Karan Singh Chandhiok (Partner & Head of Competition & Regulatory Practice, C&M).
The Chandhiok & Mahajan competition team comprised Karan Singh Chandhiok (Partner & Head of Competition & Regulatory Practice), Avinash Amarnath (Partner), Aakash Kumbhat (Managing Associate), Aileen Aditi Sundardas (Associate) and Jai Hindocha (Associate).
The Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas competition team comprised Harman Singh Sandhu (Partner), Yaman Verma (Partner), Raveena Kumari Sethia (Principal Associate), and Pranika Goel (Associate), representing BookMyShow before the CCI.
Conclusion
With the closure of proceedings, the Competition Commission of India confirmed that there was no violation of competition law by BookMyShow, bringing finality to the investigation and reaffirming the legal position regarding alleged abuse of dominance in the online movie ticket booking market in India.
Chandhiok & Mahajan (C&M) is a leading full-service law firm in India, providing high-quality, bespoke legal solutions across core practice areas including competition law, insolvency and restructuring, dispute resolution, corporate, real estate, banking and finance, capital markets, and data privacy and cybersecurity. With offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, and a team of over 100 lawyers, the firm advises leading domestic and international corporations, government bodies, financial institutions, private equity and venture capital funds, and promoter groups.
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