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Apple asks Indian court to block antitrust probe's financial records demand

Company challenges penalty rules that could result in fines based on global turnover Apple has asked an Indian court to prevent the country's antitrust regulator from demanding its global financial records while the company challenges the validity of India's penalty calculation rules, according to court documents.
The request comes as Apple faces an investigation by the Competition Commission of India into alleged anticompetitive practices in its app store operations. Apple has denied the allegations.

Dispute over penalty framework

Apple said it could face fines of up to $38 billion if the CCI calculates penalties based on the company's global turnover, according to the filing. The company challenged India's 2024 penalty rules in court, and that case remains pending.

The CCI issued a private order on December 31 requesting financial information from Apple. In a January 15 filing to Delhi High Court, Apple asked the court to direct the CCI not to take action against the company and to put the investigation on hold, according to the court papers.

Apple argued that complying with the CCI's demand would undermine its legal challenge to India's penalty rules, according to the filing. The CCI has defended the rules as necessary to deter violations by multinational companies.

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on January 27, according to court records.

Background on investigation

The CCI investigation accused Apple of abusing its dominant position through its app store policies. The case is part of broader regulatory scrutiny of Apple's app store practices across multiple jurisdictions.

Apple has not disclosed the specific penalty amount the CCI might seek. The company's reference to potential $38 billion fines is based on how penalties would be calculated if applied to Apple's global revenue.