Lawyers discuss financial documents in a government office.
Apple has approached the Delhi High Court (HC) seeking a stay on the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from proceeding with a final hearing in an ongoing antitrust investigation. The case centers on allegations of market dominance abuse by the iPhone maker within its app marketplace.
According to court documents from April 24, Apple contends that the CCI has overstepped its authority by demanding the company submit its financial statements in connection with the probe. Apple is already challenging India’s antitrust penalty rules in a separate case before the Delhi HC, viewing the CCI’s move to schedule a final hearing as an attempt to undermine the court’s jurisdiction.
The tech giant has requested an urgent hearing from the Delhi HC on May 15. This action follows Apple’s refusal to provide key financial data requested by the CCI since October 2024, citing its ongoing legal challenge against the penalty framework.
The CCI reportedly issued an ultimatum for Apple to submit its financials and scheduled a final hearing for May 21. Apple’s plea to the court aims to prevent this hearing from taking place.
This escalation occurs five months after Apple first petitioned the Delhi HC to prevent the CCI from accessing its global financial records, arguing that such disclosure could compromise its legal challenge against India’s new penalty rules. The CCI maintains that this financial data is crucial for determining the appropriate penalty amount. Apple has previously warned that using its global revenue could result in fines of up to $38 billion.
The CCI has rejected Apple’s previous requests to pause the case pending a decision on the penalty framework, suggesting that the company may be attempting to delay the proceedings. Under India’s revised antitrust law, penalties can reach up to 10% of a company’s average global turnover over three years, significantly increasing the potential financial exposure for Apple.
The antitrust complaint originated from a non-profit in 2021, with subsequent 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, leaving them little recourse but to accept terms including up to a 30% commission.
Apple denies these allegations, asserting that it holds a smaller market share compared to Google’s Android, which dominates the Indian market.
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