Google "Threatening Us": Competition Watchdog To Court Over "Leak" Charge

On Google's "leak" charge, Justice Rekha Pali replied, "Even before our orders are uploaded, they are reported by media."

Google has threatened to sue the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the antitrust authority said today as the tech giant moved the Delhi High Court over what is described as the "leak of a confidential report" linked to an investigation. The exchange unfolded in the court days after a Reuters report said that Google abused the dominant position of its Android operating system in India, using its "huge financial muscle" to illegally hurt competitors, citing a two-year probe by the CCI.

"We have received a communication from a very senior officer of Google from California threatening the CCI Chairman that they will sue us. They are threatening us. If there is a leak by media, they can go and sue the media," the CCI told the court today.

"We are a government body. What shows that we leaked the report? Also what is the confidential information of Google that has been leaked through these media reports?" it further asked, alleging an attempt by the tech giant to "frustrate the proceedings", and stressing on the dismissal of the petition.

"In the next 10 days or so, the confidential and non-confidential reports will be ready and a copy will be served to them asking for their response. That's the natural justice process. They want stay of the proceedings which is against natural justice," the court was told by the CCI.