Author: Sriganesh Ji

Introduction Cartels represent one of the most serious and economically harmful forms of anti-competitive conduct. Unlike other market distortions that may arise from unilateral dominance or vertical restraints, cartels are premised on deliberate cooperation among competitors who would otherwise be expected to compete. By secretly coordinating prices, limiting output, allocating markets, or rigging bids, cartels subvert the very logic of a competitive market economy. What makes cartels particularly dangerous is not merely the harm they cause, but the manner in which they operate. Cartels are, by design, invisible. They thrive in secrecy, sustained by mutual trust, coded communication, and calculated…