BackMonsanto objecting probe its officials: CCI tells Delhi HC
CCI had asked Monsanto and its India arm Mahyco Monsanto Biotech to cooperate with investigation on competition norms
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New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday told the Delhi high court that Monsanto was not participating in the probe initiated against its officials.
Additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain, appearing for the antitrust regulator, told justice Sanjeev Sachdeva that the seed giant was not complying with the court’s orders.
Monsanto and its group company, Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India) Pvt. Ltd, have challenged CCI’s order of 26 July and objected to a probe of its officials.
The CCI order had asked the seed company to cooperate with the investigation initiated against its officials.
Holding officials of a company responsible for anti-competitive and discriminatory practices while conducting affairs of the company, the order held that the CCI director general was duty-bound to look into the role played by all persons behind the conduct of a company.
It further held that if an investigation was required to be conducted by the director general for suspected unfair business practices, all aspects including “role of any person in charge of and responsible for conduct of the business" would be considered.
Earlier this year, CCI had ordered a detailed probe against genetically modified seed major Monsanto based on prima facie evidence of violating competition norms.
The matter will be heard next on 7 December.
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