Apple has urged the Delhi High Court (HC) to prevent the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from proceeding with a final hearing in an antitrust investigation. The case concerns allegations of market dominance abuse by the iPhone maker within the app marketplace.
According to court documents from April 24, Apple argued that the CCI has overstepped its powers by demanding the company’s financial data for the case. Apple is already separately challenging India’s antitrust penalty rules in the Delhi HC and views the CCI’s decision to schedule a final hearing as an attempt to undermine the court’s authority.
The tech giant has reportedly requested an urgent hearing from the Delhi HC on May 15. This action follows Apple’s refusal in recent weeks to submit key financial data sought by the CCI since October 2024, citing its ongoing legal challenge against the CCI’s penalty rules.
The CCI subsequently issued an ultimatum for Apple to submit its financials and scheduled a final hearing for May 21, which Apple now seeks to postpone. This development comes five months after Apple first approached the Delhi HC to block the CCI’s access to its global financial records, arguing that such disclosure would weaken its legal challenge against India’s penalty framework.
The CCI maintains that the financial data is necessary to determine the appropriate penalty. Apple has previously argued that using its global revenue could result in a fine of up to $38 billion. The regulator has rejected Apple’s request to pause the case pending a decision on the penalty framework, suggesting the company might be delaying the proceedings.
Under India’s updated antitrust law, companies can face fines of up to 10% of their average global turnover over three years, significantly increasing potential penalties for Apple.
The core of the dispute stems from an antitrust complaint filed against Apple in 2021, which was later echoed by concerns raised by Tinder’s parent company, Match Group, and several Indian startups. An investigation report by the CCI in 2024 concluded that Apple had mandated developers to use its in-app payment system, thereby restricting competition. The CCI also stated that Apple’s App Store functions as an “unavoidable trading partner” for developers, compelling them to accept terms including commissions up to 30%.
Apple denies these charges, asserting that it holds a smaller market share compared to Google’s Android, which dominates the Indian market.
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