India Issues Final Warning to Apple, Signals Antitrust Case Will Move Ahead

India’s competition watchdog has warned Apple it will proceed with an antitrust case after accusing the U.S. tech giant of delaying cooperation for more than a year. According to a confidential order dated December 31, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said Apple’s repeated requests for extensions and lack of timely responses have undermined the investigation into alleged abuse of dominance in the iOS app market.

The dispute comes as Apple challenges India’s penalty rules in the Delhi High Court, arguing it could face fines of up to $38 billion if penalties are calculated on the basis of its global turnover. While that legal challenge is still pending, Apple sought to pause the entire antitrust proceeding until the court rules on the penalty issue. The CCI rejected the request, saying procedural delays cannot continue indefinitely.

The watchdog said it had asked Apple in October 2024 to submit objections to the investigation findings and provide financial information needed to assess penalties, but the company failed to comply despite multiple extensions. The CCI warned it would move ahead unilaterally if Apple does not respond by next week. Apple has denied wrongdoing and did not comment on the order, while a source said the company views the move as an attempt to preempt the ongoing court case.

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