Shahin Akhtar
On August 25, 2025, the Delhi High Court directed the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to respond to a petition filed by TLG India Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of Publicis Groupe, concerning an ongoing investigation into suspected cartel activity in the advertising industry. Justice Sachin Datta granted the CCI two weeks to submit its reply, with the commission’s counsel acknowledging the notice during the proceedings.
Publicis approached the Court earlier this month after being denied access to key investigation files. The company argued that without these records, it cannot properly defend itself against allegations of collusion and price manipulation.
The CCI’s inquiry began after rival agency Dentsu applied for leniency in February 2024, disclosing details of alleged coordination among top ad networks. Based on those disclosures, the regulator conducted search operations in March 2025 at the offices of Publicis, WPP’s GroupM, Dentsu, and Omnicom. Investigators suspect the agencies fixed advertising rates and discounts using WhatsApp groups and informal agreements.
Publicis, represented by Senior Advocate Ritin Rai and a team of lawyers, also challenged a summons dated August 4, which required its South Asia Chief, Anupriya Acharya, to appear before the CCI and hand over sensitive contracts. The company has claimed the summons is unfair and has asked the court to set it aside.
The CCI is being represented by Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta and his team. The investigation has now widened to include groups like the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) and the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA). If the charges turn out to be true, the companies involved could face heavy fines, either up to three times their profits or 10% of their global earnings for each year of wrongdoing.
This case marks the first judicial challenge to the CCI’s media cartel probe and is expected to set an important precedent for transparency and due process in antitrust proceedings. The matter will next be heard on October 9, 2025. The court also directed that a copy of the prima facie opinion in Suo Motu Case No. 2 of 2024 be produced at the next hearing.
Case Name: TLG India Pvt. Ltd. v. Competition Commission of India
Case No.: W.P. (C) 12399/2025
Bench: Justice Sachin Datta
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