CCI tells Delhi High Court it will examine Google's allegations about leak of confidential information

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday informed the Delhi High Court that it has not leaked any confidential information about tech giant Google to the media and has recommended formation a committee to examine how such information came to be reported widely by news outlets (Google LLC v CCI)..Single-judge Justice Rekha Palli recorded the CCI's submissions and disposed of the petition filed by Google alleging CCI had leaked the Director General's (investigative arm of CCI) findings, which contained business sensitive information about Google, to various media outlets.Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing on behalf of Google, submitted that the Court should pass an order clearly recording CCI's stand on their inquiry. Further he asked the Court to grant him liberty to approach the Court in case of breach of any of the statements by the CCI..Additional Solicitor General N Venkatraman appearing on behalf of the CCI, submitted that there is no question of breach or leaking of confidential information.He further submitted that the CCI has no objection in accepting the request of Google regarding maintaining confidentiality. .The Court granted Google liberty to take appropriate legal discourse, in case of breach of the statements made by CCI, and disposed of the case..The investigation by CCI pertains to a 2019 case regarding abuse of dominant position by Google with Android to ensure its dominance over Playstore.Google had moved the High Court alleging that findings in the DG report were reported by media even before it was given to Google.These news reports cited information that was protected from disclosure in the non-confidential version of the DG Report, it was contended by Google."The unlawful disclosure of the DG Report and Respondent No. 1 's (CCI's) failure to preserve confidentiality severely affects the petitioners 'right to conduct business, damages its reputation, and renders its rights of defence and due process redundant in proceedings before Respondent No. 1 and the DG," the petition had said.Right to reputation is a facet of Article 21 of the Constitution and damage to a party's reputation is immediate and far-reaching, specifically for companies like Google, the plea stated.CCI had, however, rebuffed the claim by Google maintaining that it had not leaked any information and Google should consider taking action against media companies who reported such information.