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India Issues Final Warning to Apple in Antitrust Probe

By  |  January 15, 2026

India’s competition watchdog has warned Apple it will move ahead with an antitrust case against the U.S. technology company after prolonged delays and what regulators describe as a lack of cooperation, according to Reuters, citing a confidential order.

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    The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been investigating Apple over allegations that it abused its dominant position in the app store market. Apple has said it could face penalties of up to $38 billion if the regulator applies rules that calculate fines based on global turnover, per Reuters. The company has denied wrongdoing and has separately challenged those penalty rules in the Delhi High Court, where the matter is still under consideration.

    Despite the ongoing court proceedings, a confidential order dated December 31 shows Apple privately asked the CCI to pause the entire antitrust case until the court rules on the penalty framework, according to Reuters. The regulator rejected that request and signaled growing frustration with the company’s conduct during the investigation.

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    The watchdog noted that it asked Apple in October 2024 to submit objections to the investigation’s findings and provide financial information typically used to determine penalties. However, the company has been granted multiple deadline extensions without providing the requested material. In the order seen by Reuters, the CCI said, “The Commission is of the considered view that repeated extensions, despite unambiguous directions, undermine procedural discipline and impede the timely conclusion of proceedings.” It added, “Such indulgence cannot be continued indefinitely.”

    Related: India Defends Global Turnover Antitrust Rule as Apple Challenges Multibillion-Dollar Fine

    The regulator has now issued what it described as a final warning, saying it will proceed with the case on its own if Apple fails to respond by next week, according to Reuters. Apple did not reply to questions from Reuters about the order.

    A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that Apple views the December order as an attempt to get ahead of the ongoing court challenge and is unlikely to respond before the judges hear the case again on January 27.

    The dispute is part of a broader clash between Apple and app developers in India. Since 2022, companies including Tinder-owner Match and several Indian startups have pursued antitrust complaints against Apple. Investigators last year concluded that the company engaged in “abusive conduct” in the market for iOS apps, according to Reuters, findings that underpin the current proceedings.

    Source: Reuters