Delhi High Court restrains CCI from proceeding against Madison until next hearing

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued significant directions in Madison Communications’ writ petition against the Competition Commission of India (CCI), effectively restraining the regulator from taking any further steps against the agency or its senior leadership until the next hearing.

Madison was represented by Senior Advocate Krishnan Venugopal, assisted by advocates Anu Monga and Rahul Goel. The Court was informed that while CCI had filed its counter-affidavit on Saturday, Madison required additional time to file its rejoinder.

Madison also sought a stay on the proceedings—or, at minimum, a stay on any further summons—until the next date of hearing.
Appearing for Madison, counsel submitted that during the previous hearing, CCI had stated in open court that it would withdraw the impugned summons, but no formal communication confirming the withdrawal had been issued.

CCI’s counsel disputed that any such undertaking had been made and argued that the writ petition itself was misconceived. The regulator submitted that the Director General (DG) is required to complete the investigation by 8 December 2025, and therefore must be permitted to summon Sam Balsara and Vikram Sakhuja.
Madison opposed the request and relied on the Supreme Court’s order in Paramjeet Singh Gahlaut v. CCI, where the apex court stayed CCI-issued summons. Madison also cited the Zydus Healthcare ruling, in which a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court held that “no coercive action” could be taken against an entity not named in the Section 26(1) order.

Madison argued that it, too, had not been named as an opposite party in CCI’s Section 26(1) directions. The Bench orally observed that once the date specified in a summons lapses, CCI would necessarily have to issue a fresh summons.

The Court further questioned how the DG could reasonably complete the investigation by 8 December 2025 without recording statements, and orally suggested that the DG seek an extension of time to file the investigation report.

Despite objections from CCI, the High Court directed that the regulator shall not proceed against Madison until the next hearing.
The Court also ordered that the arrangement recorded on 14 October 2025 shall continue, which effectively means no summons will be issued to Sam Balsara or Vikram Sakhuja until further orders.

The next date of hearing in the case is December 8.