The notice was issued on May 23, 2008 and the next hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2008.
In its petition, Satyam Food Specialities alleged that Coca-Cola, through its policies, killed the brands that it had acquired from Cadbury Schweppes Beverages India Ltd in 1999.
Satyam Food had entered into a bottling agreement with Cadbury Schweppes Beverages India to manufacture, bottle and sell Cadbury's drinks brands.
Now Satyam Food claims that Coca-Cola has killed off the brands in India to promote its own brands. The flavours of Crush, Canada Dry, Sports Cola, Tonic Water, Bitter Lemon, were never marketed by Coca-Cola as their own brand and the petitioner company was forced to sell the products with Cadbury Schweppes bottles, crown and crate,which led to the people taking those products as spurious in the market, said Vibhu Shanker, advocate for the complainant.
However, Coca-Cola India on being contacted refused comment, saying it has not received any notice from the MRTPC till date.
"We have received no notice from the MRTPC. We will appropriately deal with the issue as and when we receive such a notice", said a company spokesperson.
It is to be noted that Satyam Food in its petition against Coca-Cola India at the Rajasthan High Court has claimed Rs 371 crore as compensation, under section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 for the losses they incurred due to the alleged breach of agreement by Coca-Cola India.
In the MRTPC complaint, Satyam Food has alleged that Coca-Cola India did not get necessary permission from MRTPC to take over Cadbury Schweppes products in India and indulged in unfair trade practices barred under section 36 of MRTP Act.
