Anil Ambani-led Reliance Big Pictures has approached competition watchdog the competition commission of India (CCI) alleging that a Karnataka industry chamber is abusing its dominant position by restraining it from exhibiting movies.
Taking to the next level the tiff that began with the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) banning the distribution of 'Raavan' and 'Raavanan', Reliance Big has complained that the chamber is now asking producers and distributors to stop distributing prints to Big Cinemas, sources said.
"Reliance Big Pictures had alleged that FKCCI being a leading industry chamber in the Bangalore and Mangalore region, is using its dominant position to dictate terms to distributors and movie makers. They have asked distributors to stop giving not only Kannada films, but also non-kannada films to Big Cinemas," official sources said. Reliance Big Pictures is in the field of both film distribution and exhibition.
The commission, according to official sources, will take a view on the complaint sometime this week and depending on its merit, an investigation will be ordered. The complaint has been filed under section 3 of the Competition Act, which pertains to abuse of dominant position by market leaders.
Earlier, the CCI had restrained FKCCI from preventing exhibition of Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan-starrer 'Raavan' which was distributed by Reliance Big Pictures. The CCI, which became fully functional in May last year, is empowered by an act of Parliament to entertain cases relating to abuse of dominant market position and anti-competitive agreements.
