Google approaches Delhi HC against CCI after 'leak' of confidential report

By Team Newsable | First Published Sep 23, 2021, 5:10 PM IST

According to the company, the "breach" that Google talks of relates to leaking of a confidential report that CCI has prepared on Google's business practices in India.

Google has filed a writ petition in Delhi High Court alleging that a confidential interim fact-finding report prepared by Competition Commission of India’s Director General in relation to an ongoing probe into the company’s Android smartphone agreements has been leaked to the media.

In its petition, which is likely to be listed and heard on Friday, the company protests "against the breach of confidence which impairs Google’s ability to defend itself and harms Google and its partners." According to the company, the "breach" that Google talks of relates to leaking of a confidential report that CCI has prepared on Google's business practices in India.

Tap to resize

Latest Videos

Tap to resize

Google, in a statement, said it aims to prevent any further unlawful disclosures of confidential findings by the investigative arm of Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Senior Advocate Abishek Manu Singhvi, representing Google, made a mentioning about the case before Chief Justice DN Patel and requested for an urgent hearing in the case.

Also read: Avoiding blue ticks? Here's how you can read WhatsApp messages without opening chats

He claimed that the anti-trust body has prepared an adverse investigative report against Google, which it is now leaking to the media. The reports have already surfaced allover, he claimed, reported LiveLaw.

Commenting on the petition with the High Court, a Google spokesperson said, the company was deeply concerned that the report was leaked to the media “while in the CCI’s custody”.

“Protecting confidential information is fundamental to any governmental investigation, and we are pursuing our legal right to seek redress and prevent any further unlawful disclosures. We cooperated fully and maintained confidentiality throughout the investigative process, and we hope and expect the same level of confidentiality from the institutions we engage with,” said the spokesperson said in the statement.

The company stated that the DG's findings "do not reflect the final decision of the CCI" and the submission of the investigation report is an interim procedural step.

"Google has not yet had the opportunity to review the DG's findings, much less submit its defence of any allegations," the statement said.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona

For more reliable and latest news