CCI must take action against Google, says Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani amid Play Store delisting row
India’s antitrust regulator the Competition Commission of India (CCI) must take action against Google’s anti-competitive behaviour, Info Edge co-founder Sanjeev Bikchandani has told Moneycontrol.
On March 1, Googledelisted five of Info Edge’s apps- the flagship Naukri app, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf Job Search App, 99acres, and Shiksha – from the Play Store. The company’s matrimony business Jeevansathi is still available on the app marketplace.
Info Edge, one of India’s oldest internet companies, said in an exchange filing that this action came as a surprise for the firm since Google didn’t give them “due and sufficient notice”.
The company said it is reviewing and evaluating the course of action and working with Google to ensure that the firm’s mobile applications are reinstated on the Google Play Store in a timely manner.
Sources told Moneycontrol that Info Edge didn’t receive a notice or communication from Google about any of its apps being non-compliant, besides its matrimony business Jeevansathi. The company received a communication of Naukri and 99acres being non-compliant a few hours before the apps were delisted, they said.
The takedown
This action is part of Google’sdrive to purge appsfrom Indian digital companies, which, according to the tech giant, have not complied with its app billing policy for an extended period of time.
As part of these efforts, Google has delisted over a dozen apps by prominent Indian digital companies including Matrimony, and Shaadi.com from Play Store. The move came hours after the Android maker said it will take action against 10 developers who had chosen not to comply with its payment policy despite adhering to the payment policies of other app stores.
