Apple has intensified its legal challenge against an Indian antitrust investigation, arguing that regulators failed to conduct an independent assessment and instead relied extensively on allegations submitted by rival companies, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and reported by Reuters journalist Aditya Kalra.
The filing, dated June 25, asks India’s Competition Commission (CCI) to discard the investigative findings, marking one of Apple’s strongest responses yet in a case examining whether the company’s App Store policies violate Indian competition law.
According to Reuters, Apple’s submission contends that investigators reproduced claims made by competing businesses—including Match Group, PhonePe and Paytm—without independently verifying or critically evaluating the allegations. The company argues that the investigation’s conclusions should therefore be invalidated.
The dispute stems from a long-running CCI investigation into Apple’s App Store rules for iOS. A confidential investigation report issued in 2024 concluded that Apple had engaged in abusive conduct by requiring app developers to use its proprietary in-app payment system, limiting alternative payment options available to developers and consumers. Apple has consistently denied violating India’s competition laws.
In its latest filing, Apple also disputes the characterization of its market position in India. The company states that it accounts for less than 6% of the country’s smartphone market, describing itself as a relatively small participant rather than a dominant platform. Reuters reported that Apple argued any regulatory order requiring changes to its App Store business model could undermine the integrated nature of its ecosystem and create uncertainty for future investment in India’s digital economy.
The Competition Commission of India did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment, and Apple also declined to comment publicly on the filing, according to Reuters.
Antitrust concerns center on platform control
The case reflects broader global debates over whether operators of dominant digital platforms can use control of app marketplaces to restrict competition in payments and software distribution.
Competition authorities in multiple jurisdictions have scrutinized Apple’s requirement that many developers use its own in-app purchasing system and pay associated commissions. Regulators have argued that such rules may limit competition by making it more difficult for developers to offer alternative payment methods or compete on price.
Related: Apple Antitrust Probe in India Advances as Company Agrees to Submit Financial Records
Apple has maintained that its App Store policies are designed to protect user security, privacy and the integrity of its ecosystem, while supporting investments in the platform.
As part of its submission to Indian regulators, Apple also objected to what it described as the investigation’s reliance on material drawn from a European antitrust decision. Reuters reported that the company argued the Indian investigation incorporated data and graphics from an earlier European Union case without adequately accounting for differences between European and Indian market conditions.
Case unfolds amid broader regulatory pressure
India’s investigation forms part of an expanding wave of global antitrust scrutiny facing Apple.
The company has confronted regulatory actions in the European Union, where competition authorities have examined App Store restrictions under both traditional competition law and the Digital Markets Act. Apple has also faced legal and regulatory challenges in the United States and several other jurisdictions concerning its control over app distribution and digital payments.
India’s Competition Commission has previously pursued similar competition cases involving other major technology firms. Reuters noted that Alphabet’s Google challenged the regulator’s conclusions in an earlier Android-related antitrust case but ultimately implemented changes to aspects of its business following regulatory action.
The current dispute also unfolds as Apple expands its manufacturing footprint in India, which has become an increasingly important production hub as the company diversifies its supply chain beyond China. Counterpoint Research projects that India will account for roughly 26% of global iPhone production during 2026, according to Reuters.
Procedural disagreements remain unresolved
Apple has also raised concerns about how the investigation was conducted. According to Reuters, the company argues it was not provided an opportunity to present oral evidence during the inquiry, unlike Google in a previous competition case before the same regulator. Indian competition lawyer Gautam Shahi told Reuters that while oral hearings may be desirable, investigators are not legally required to provide them if they believe sufficient evidence already exists.
The Competition Commission has separately accused Apple of delaying proceedings by challenging aspects of India’s antitrust penalty framework while resisting elements of the investigation. Earlier this year, Reuters reported that Apple agreed to submit financial information relating to its Indian operations after months of procedural disputes over potential penalty calculations.
Source: Reuters
