Amazon Approaches Supreme Court To Pause Anti-Trust Review Of Future Group Deal: Report

Amazon’s appeal to the Supreme Court has comes after the CCI’s closed-door hearing on Wednesday after the US firm's lawyers declined to argue and explain their position on the matter

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New Delhi: In a new development on the Future Group deal, Amazon.com Inc has asked Supreme Court to pause an expedited review of allegations that the US firm concealed information while seeking antitrust clearance for a 2019 deal with Future Group.

In June, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) accused Amazon of concealing facts and making false submissions at the time of taking approval for the $200 million investment into a Future unit in 2019, legal papers seen by Reuters showed.

This deal remains at the core of protracted legal disputes between the two sides. Earlier Amazon has expressed confidence of addressing the watchdog's concerns to Reuters.

Amazon’s appeal to the Supreme Court has come after the CCI’s closed-door hearing on Wednesday after the US firm's lawyers declined to argue and explain their position on the matter, saying they had asked the top court to pause the process.

The watchdog noted in an internal document - seen by Reuters - that it had decided to give no extensions to the company to explain its position and will now issue an order in due course.

Amazon and the CCI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The CCI decision is critical to Amazon's legal challenges.

What is expected from the ruling?

In case the CCI rules against Amazon and revokes the 2019 approval, it could have a bearing on the US firm's ongoing legal battle with Future, according to Reuters sources.

That's because Amazon has so far successfully used the 2019 Future unit deal to argue breach of certain contracts when the Indian company announced plans to sell its retail assets to rival Reliance Industries for $3.4 billion last year.

Future, which denies any wrongdoing, accuses Amazon of illegally interfering in its business decisions and derailing a potential deal without which it says it will face liquidation.