TLG India contests CCI antitrust summons, says ‘Publicis Groupe’ not a legal entity

TLG India Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of French advertising major Publicis Groupe, has reportedly approached the Delhi High Court against the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The company has argued that the antitrust probe has been improperly launched in the name of “Publicis Groupe,” which it claims is merely a brand and trademark, and not an incorporated legal entity capable of facing such proceedings.

TLG India asserts that it, and not the brand name, should be identified as the proper legal entity in the case.

Citing this argument, the petition has objected to the summoning of Anupriya Acharya by the CCI.

Earlier, hearing the case, the Delhi High Court reportedly asked the CCI to submit its reply on a plea filed by TLG India, representing Publicis Groupe India, questioning its actions in an antitrust investigation into alleged cartelisation in the advertising industry. According to reports, the court has given the CCI two weeks’ time to submit its reply.

In the plea filed on August 11, Publicis has reportedly asked for access to the details of the case. It maintained that without access to the files, its Indian team has no clarity on the accusations and cannot prepare a response.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 9, 2025.

Publicis Groupe moved the court after being denied access to case files in the investigation into alleged price-fixing by ad agencies.

In March, raids were conducted on several major players, including WPP’s GroupM, Dentsu, Publicis, and Omnicom, over suspicions of collusion in setting publicity rates and discounts.

The Raids

The case marks the first legal challenge arising from this investigation. 

Publicis had previously urged the CCI in July to pause further investigation until it could inspect the case documents, but the regulator had declined.

Dentsu has voluntarily disclosed alleged malpractices under the CCI’s leniency programme, which grants reduced penalties to companies that provide evidence of wrongdoing.