The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has conducted surprise nationwide raids at six paper mills in connection with alleged price collusion in the supply of paper to a government school education body.
The operation, which began on Tuesday, covered facilities across Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and New Delhi, according to individuals familiar with the development.
India’s paper industry, which contributes about 5 per cent of global production, has an estimated annual turnover of $11 billion, as reported by the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association.
The alleged collusion involves paper supplies to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which prints textbooks and other educational materials for government schools across the country.
Companies Under Investigation
According to sources, the CCI’s investigation includes searches at the offices of Satia Industries, Silverton Pulp, and Chadha Papers, among others.
One of the sources also confirmed that Shreyans Industries was being searched. The watchdog has not released the names of all the companies involved, citing confidentiality.
Satia Industries’ Chief Financial Officer, Rachit Nagpal, confirmed the raids and stated that the company had fully cooperated with CCI investigators.
Officials at Silverton Pulp declined to comment, while Chadha Papers and Shreyans Industries did not immediately respond to queries from the media.
The CCI typically maintains strict confidentiality in its cartel investigations, refraining from public disclosures until sufficient evidence has been collected.
The watchdog did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
The ongoing investigation stems from a complaint filed last year by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
The Council alleged that certain paper mills had colluded to manipulate prices during the procurement process for textbook paper supplies.
The CCI subsequently launched a probe and initiated search-and-seizure operations this week.
The NCERT, however, has not issued any public statement or response to the ongoing inquiry.
Broader Context
This latest action follows another high-profile CCI operation in March that targeted several global advertising agencies, including GroupM, Interpublic, Publicis, and Dentsu, over alleged price collusion in media services.
That investigation, which remains ongoing, began after Dentsu voluntarily disclosed information about potential anti-competitive conduct and later introduced stronger compliance controls and audits.
During such investigations, CCI officials typically seize documents, digital records, and mobile phone data from company premises.
They also interrogate key personnel to verify evidence of communication or coordination among competitors.
These measures form part of the Commission’s broader effort to curb anti-competitive practices and maintain fair market conditions.
The current probe into paper mills marks one of the most extensive investigations into India’s paper manufacturing sector in recent years, signalling the CCI’s growing focus on transparency and competition in public procurement processes.
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