OTA’S FIGHT CONTINUES; SUIT OF RS165 CRORE FILED

The tug-of-war between Travelocity India and Cleartrip, which started in January 2010 over data theft, does not seem to be reaching to an end. Both players have been accusing each other for the have been attacking and counterattacking on each other. In a fresh twist to the case, Travelocity India recently filed a civil suit against Cleartrip and its top officials in a Mumbai court for data theft. Travelocoity had earlier filed the same case in Gurgaon. The Gurgaon Police had filed a charge sheet against the top management of Cleartrip for data theft and criminal conspiracy, alleging collusion, abetment, misappropriation, money laundering, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy. According to Travelocity India, it has claimed damages of Rs 165 crore for the business losses suffered by it as a result of the theft. “The suit has been filed against Cleartrip for illegally procuring various confidential information, trade secrets, hotel business database and know-how of Travelocity’s business processes and using the same to build its own database and business in India,” an official statement from Travelocity reads. Commenting on the development, Roshan Mendis, President of ZUJI and Regional Vice President of Travelocity Asia Pacific said: “We have full faith in the Indian judiciary. While we want to thank Gurgaon Police for their immediate and prompt action in the criminal case, we are also pursuing our claim towards the business losses suffered by us as a result of the theft. This is a rare civil case where a criminal and forensic investigation has revealed clear evidence of data theft and wrongdoing.” Cleartrip, however, said that stated that the company feels that the law suit is vindictive and that the figures pertaining to the damages in it are groundless. “The Bombay High Court rejected the plea for an injunction petition filed by Travelocity against Cleartrip; which was part of the civil suit, seeking damages of US$ 37.5 million. We stay committed to the highest standards of transparency and integrity with respect to our customers and in everything we do,” reads an official statement from Cleartrip.