AB InBev Wins Court Stay Against Indian Antitrust Probe
India's antitrust agency shifted AB InBev from witness to target in a cartel probe. A court halted the case after the brewer challenged the legal status change.
The antitrust regulator in India has shifted its stance on ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA/NV, moving the company from a cooperating witness to a primary target in a cartel investigation. This shift has sparked a significant legal confrontation, with the world’s largest brewer securing a temporary court injunction to halt the probe.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been investigating 42 alcohol retailers in the state of Telangana since 2022. These retailers are accused of forming a cartel to exclude competitors of the Belgium-based brewer, which produces global brands such as Budweiser and Corona. While AB InBev was previously treated as a third-party witness, its status was changed to a party under investigation in November 2025.
