TL; DR
- Indian regulators have warned Apple that the antitrust investigation will move forward if the company does not respond soon.
- Authorities say Apple has repeatedly delayed submissions requested more than a year ago.
- Apple is contesting India’s penalty framework in court and has not commented on the latest warning.
India has signaled that it is prepared to continue an antitrust case against Apple after concluding that the company has stalled the process through repeated delays, according to a confidential order reviewed by Reuters.
The warning comes from the CCI (Competition Commission of India), which is investigating Apple’s conduct in the iOS app ecosystem. The regulator previously found that Apple misused its market position through App Store policies, an allegation Apple has denied.
People familiar with the matter said Apple is concerned that penalties could reach tens of billions of dollars if India applies a global turnover-based calculation. Apple has challenged those penalty rules in the Delhi High Court, where the issue remains under consideration.
ALSO READ: Best iPhone 17 Pro Max & iPhone Air Deals Live On Amazon Republic Day Sale 2026
Despite the court case, the CCI’s December 31 order shows Apple sought to pause the antitrust proceedings entirely until the judiciary rules on the penalty framework. The regulator declined that request and instead pointed to Apple’s lack of cooperation during the investigation.
According to the order, the CCI had asked Apple as far back as October 2024 to respond to the findings and submit financial information typically used to assess penalties. The watchdog said Apple has since been granted multiple extensions.
ALSO READ: iPhone 17e Could Launch as Early as February 2026: Release Timeline, Specs, and Price Leaks
“The Commission is of the considered view that repeated extensions, despite unambiguous directions, undermine procedural discipline and impede the timely conclusion of proceedings,” the CCI said in the order. It added that “such indulgence cannot be continued indefinitely.”
The regulator has now issued a final warning, stating it will proceed with the case unilaterally if Apple does not respond by the next deadline.
A source cited by Reuters said Apple views the regulator’s latest order as premature while the court challenge is still ongoing and is unlikely to respond before the next hearing, scheduled for January 27.
ALSO READ: M5 Pro & M5 Max MacBook Pro Models Could Launch This Month: Report
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
