Pranav Gupta leads publishing industry shakeup with landmark CCI verdict

New Delhi : In a watershed moment for India's publishing ecosystem, Pranav Gupta, Managing Director of Prints Publications Pvt. Ltd., has emerged victorious in a critical case against cartelized practices that long plagued the industry. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ruled decisively in Gupta’s favour in Case No. 38/2021, ordering sweeping action against unethical market control and anti-competitive behaviour.

At centre of the ruling lies the Federation of Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Association in India (FPBAI) and its sub-body, the Good Offices Committee (GOC), both found guilty of:

Fixing inflated currency exchange rates for imported books and journals, far beyond standard bank or RBI rates.

Controlling commercial terms such as discounts, credit periods, and pricing for member publishers and booksellers.

Issuing exclusionary advisories to libraries and educational institutions against non-member vendors, stifling fair competition.

The CCI held these actions in violation of Sections 3(1), 3(3)(a), and 3(3)(b) of the Competition Act, 2002, and further imposed personal liability on former FPBAI presidents Mr. S.C. Sethi and Mr. Pradeep Arora under Section 48.

“This is not just a legal win—it is a moral one. It's a message to every monopolistic gatekeeper: transparency, fairness, and open competition are non-negotiable,” said Pranav Gupta.

“Today, we’ve broken the wall. The publishing industry has a new path forward.”

The case was meticulously fought with strategic support from AnantLaw, with lawyers Rahul Goel and Anu Monga playing pivotal roles in securing this milestone decision.

The CCI’s order includes a strict cease-and-desist directive to FPBAI and mandates the development of an open, competitive, and transparent publishing environment—ushering in a new era for booksellers, institutions, and readers alike.