The Competition Commission of India (CCI) last month
suspended its approval of Amazon's 2019 deal with Future, denting the US
e-commerce giant's attempts to block the sale of Future's retail assets to
Indian market leader Reliance Industries.
The suspension jolted Amazon as subsequently a New Delhi
court halted the arbitration proceedings between the two sides.
Late on Saturday night, Amazon filed an appeal against the
CCI suspension decision at India's National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, two
of the sources said.
Separately, two other sources said, Amazon also filed a
challenge in the Supreme Court against the Delhi court decision in which judges
last week that said Future-Amazon arbitration proceedings must remain on hold
until February 1 in light of the antitrust suspension of the deal.
Amazon and the CCI did not immediately respond to requests
for comment.
Amazon Sues Enforcement Directorate to Quash Future Group
Deal Investigation
The filings are the latest in the bitter legal dispute which
has embroiled Amazon, Future, and Reliance over what is seen as a battle for
retail supremacy in India's booming consumer market.
Reliance, run by one of India's richest men Mukesh Ambani,
wants to expand its footprint by acquiring debt-laden Future, but Amazon has
told India's antitrust body it believes Reliance's consolidated position
"will further restrict competition in the Indian retail market".
Amazon has long argued that Future violated the terms of its
2019 deal in deciding to sell retail assets to Reliance. The US company's
position has so far been backed by the Singapore arbitrator and Indian courts.
Future denies any wrongdoing.
But after the CCI suspended that deal's approval, saying
Amazon suppressed information while seeking clearances for the deal, Future has
argued Amazon no longer has any legal basis to pursue the dispute.
Both of Amazon's appeals, to the Indian tribunal and Supreme
Court, are likely to be heard in coming days, two of the sources said. © Reuters
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