Moving a long-running antitrust investigation a step closer to a potential penalty ruling, Apple has decided to provide CCI the financial details of its India operations.
Apple has agreed to submit financial details of its India operations to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), marking a development in a long-running antitrust investigation that could eventually lead to penalties against the company.
According to a confidential CCI order reviewed by Reuters, Apple informed the regulator last month that it would provide India-specific financial information, which is typically required for assessing potential fines.
During a hearing on 21 May 2026, Apple sought what its legal representatives described as a final extension until 25 June 2026 to furnish the financial data. The CCI granted the request, according to the order.
The move follows a 2024 investigation in which the watchdog concluded that the company had abused its dominant position in the iPhone app distribution market.
The case represents one of Apple’s most significant regulatory challenges in India, a market that has become increasingly important to the company. Apple has expanded local iPhone production in recent years as part of efforts to diversify manufacturing beyond China. According to Counterpoint Research, Apple’s share of India’s smartphone market has risen to 9 per cent from around 2 per cent five years ago.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing and said it intends to challenge the investigation’s findings. The company had previously resisted providing financial information, arguing that a parallel legal challenge concerning India’s antitrust penalty framework should be resolved first.
Apple has contended that the CCI sought global financial data, which could expose it to penalties based on worldwide revenue. However, the regulator has maintained that it initially required only India-specific financial information and has accused Apple of delaying proceedings through court action. A judge in May 2026 directed the company to cooperate with the investigation.
The complaint, first filed in 2021, involves the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), Match Group and a non-profit organisation. They allege that Apple’s App Store policies, including restrictions on third-party payment systems for in-app purchases, are anti-competitive.
Apple maintains that it remains a relatively small player in India’s smartphone market, where devices running Google’s Android operating system dominate.
