Google faces up to $5-billion fine by CCI in India

Google, which is facing antitrust investigation in India by fair trade watchdog CCI, can face a penalty of up to about $5 billion (Rs. 30,500 crore) if it is found to have violated competition norms of India

The case has been before the Competition Commission of India (CCI) as well for over two years now and it relates to allegations that Google is abusing its dominant position in the Internet search engine space.

Under competition regulations, an entity found violating the norms could be slapped with penalty of up to 10 per cent of its three-year annual average turnover.

Google's annual revenues in the last three years amounts to a staggering $49.3 (Rs. 300,730 crore) billion and the maximum penalty can be up to nearly $5 billion.

When asked about the ongoing probe and the potential penalty of up to $5 billion, a Google spokesperson told  "We are extending full co-operation to the Competition Commission of India in their investigation."
"We're pleased that the conclusion of the Federal Trade Commission's two year review was that Google's services are good for users and good for competition,"