CAIT complaints about discounts offered on online purchase, examined by CCI

The traders body, CAIT has lodged complaints that biased practice has been adopted by banks in providing discounts for purchases made through e-commerce platforms. The complaints are being examined by CCI.

Som Parkash, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha said that the government has also received representations from the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) against e-commerce companies. He added that those representations were forwarded to the Enforcement Directorate, which has taken up the matter for investigation.

'Complaints received from CAIT, alleging biased practice adopted by banks in providing cash backs and discounts for purchases made through e-commerce websites, such as Amazon and Flipkart, are being examined by Competition Commission of India (CCI) as well,' he said.

The minister answered in negative while answering a question on whether ED or RBI has initiated a probe into the alleged violation of Foreign Direct Investment policy and FEMA in the deal between Flipkart and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail

In a separate reply, he said a report on Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (the Notorious Markets List) was released by US Trade Representative on January 14 this year, which aims towards addressing concerns of American companies and consumers.

'The Government of India, is under no obligation to take action on such reports and maintains that India has a strong legal and judicial system, to counter such threats of counterfeiting and piracy,' he added.

He said several initiatives have been taken up for strengthening enforcement against counterfeiting and for creating strong legal deterrence.

'To counter online piracy, CIPAM (Cell for Intellectual Property Promotion and Management ) collaborated with National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Maharashtra Cyber and Digital Crime Unit, to suspend over 380 infringing websites on the basis of incomplete KYC,' he said.