Indian officials have told Apple they will proceed with an antitrust case, and accused the company of undermining the investigation, Reuters reported, citing a confidential order.
The 31 December order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) reportedly says Apple has received “repeated extensions” to an October 2024 request for the company to file objections in the case and provide financial details typically used to assess penalties.
‘Repeated extensions’
“The Commission is of the considered view that repeated extensions, despite unambiguous directions, undermine procedural discipline and impede the timely conclusion of proceedings,” the order reportedly states.
The CCI said this “indulgence” could not be continued indefinitely, and gave Apple a final warning that it will proceed with the case unilaterally if no response is received by next week.
Reuters cited a source familiar with Apple as saying that the company views the order as a move to preempt an ongoing court proceeding challenging the CCI’s penalty rules.
The company is not likely to respond to the CCI before the next hearing in that case on 27 January, according to the report.
Apple is challenging the CCI’s penalty rules, which authorise fines based on a company’s global turnover, in Delhi High Court, saying it fears excessive penalties.
Delays
The CCI’s order indicates Apple sought to pause the agency’s case while the matter is before the court, Reuters said.
Tinder owner Match and Indian start-ups have been involved in an antitrust challenge to Apple since 2022. In 2024, investigators said Apple was engaged in “abusive conduct” in the iOS apps market, one of several challenges to Apple’s App Store business model around the world, notably in the EU, which levied a €500 million (£434m) fine on the company last year.
