Competition watchdog cracks down on cartel practices by FPBAI and GOC in a major victory for transparency and open market dynamics
3 July 2025, New Delhi
In a defining moment for India’s publishing industry, Pranav Gupta, Managing Director of Prints Publications Pvt. Ltd., has emerged victorious in a significant antitrust case that challenges entrenched cartel-like practices in the sector. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ruled in Gupta’s favor in Case No. 38/2021, ordering decisive action against unethical market control and anti-competitive behavior.
At the heart of the ruling lies the Federation of Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Association in India (FPBAI) and its sub-body, the Good Offices Committee (GOC)—both found guilty of:
- Artificially inflating foreign currency exchange rates for imported books and journals—well above the prevailing RBI or standard bank rates.
- Imposing rigid commercial terms such as fixed discounts, credit periods, and pricing structures on member publishers and booksellers.
- Circulating exclusionary advisories to libraries and educational institutions, discouraging purchases from non-member vendors—effectively suppressing fair competition.
The CCI found these actions in violation of Sections 3(1), 3(3)(a), and 3(3)(b) of the Competition Act, 2002, and imposed personal liability under Section 48 on former FPBAI presidents Mr. S.C. Sethi and Mr. Pradeep Arora for their roles in the malpractice.
“This is not just a legal win—it’s a moral one,” said Pranav Gupta.
“It’s a message to every monopolistic gatekeeper: transparency, fairness, and open competition are non-negotiable. Today, we’ve broken the wall. The publishing industry has a new path forward.”Also Read: Do You Want to Smell Like Trump? ‘Victory 45-47’ Is Here to Make You Feel Presidential
The case was strategically led by AnantLaw, with legal experts Rahul Goel and Anu Monga playing pivotal roles in securing this precedent-setting judgment.
In addition to financial penalties, the CCI has issued a strict cease-and-desist order to FPBAI and mandated the creation of a more transparent, inclusive, and competitive ecosystem—ushering in a transformative era for booksellers, academic institutions, publishers, and readers across India.
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