Samsung has alleged that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) acted unlawfully by detaining its employees and seizing data during a raid linked to an antitrust probe involving Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart. The allegations are detailed in a legal filing submitted to the High Court in Chandigarh.
The investigation stems from CCI’s findings in August, which concluded that Samsung and other smartphone makers violated antitrust regulations by collaborating with Amazon and Flipkart to launch products online exclusively. Samsung has denied these claims and is seeking to overturn the investigation’s conclusions regarding its involvement in the antitrust probe.
According to Samsung’s October 11 court filing, CCI officials conducted a raid in 2022 at a vendor associated with Amazon. During this operation, three Samsung employees were allegedly detained, their mobile phones confiscated, and confidential company data extracted without authorisation. The company argues that this action breached legal protocols, invalidating the findings against it.
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The 32-page filing, which has not been publicly disclosed, forms part of Samsung’s efforts to contest the investigation. The company has criticised the CCI for what it considers a misuse of authority, emphasising that the seizure of data and detention of employees were both inappropriate and illegal. Samsung’s challenge reflects broader concerns over the practices of regulatory bodies in such investigations.
