Apple Moves Indian Court to Block Antitrust Probe From Accessing Global Financial Records
New Delhi – Apple has approached the Delhi High Court seeking immediate relief against India’s competition regulator, requesting that it be restrained from demanding the company’s global financial data while a crucial legal challenge remains unresolved.
The move highlights the intensifying legal standoff between the US-based technology giant and Indian regulators over the scope and reach of antitrust enforcement in the country..
At the center of the dispute is an ongoing investigation by the Competition Commission of India into Apple’s App Store practices, which have been accused of unfairly disadvantaging app developers and abusing market dominance.
Apple has consistently denied these allegations, arguing that its ecosystem promotes user security, innovation, and fair competition..
In its petition, Apple has argued that the regulator’s demand for worldwide financial records is premature and legally unsustainable.
The company maintains that such information is being sought under penalty rules whose constitutional validity is currently under challenge before the court..
Apple fears that if its global turnover is used as the basis for calculating penalties, it could face fines running into tens of billions of dollars.. This concern has become a key driver behind its legal challenge to India’s revised antitrust penalty framework introduced in 2024..
According to court filings, the competition watchdog issued a confidential order at the end of December seeking detailed financial disclosures from Apple.
The company responded by asking the court to pause the investigation entirely until the legal questions around penalty calculations are conclusively decided..
Apple’s legal position is that complying with the regulator’s demand at this stage would undermine its broader challenge to the law itself..
The company argues that once sensitive global financial data is disclosed, the harm would be irreversible even if the court later rules in Apple’s favor..
On the other hand, Indian regulators have defended their approach, stating that global turnover-based penalties are essential to ensure large multinational corporations do not treat fines as a mere cost of doing business.
The regulator believes that strong deterrence is necessary to protect competition and consumer interests in India’s fast-growing digital economy..
The case carries significant implications beyond Apple alone, as it could set a precedent for how India enforces antitrust rules against global technology companies.
Several international firms are closely watching the proceedings, given the potential impact on compliance obligations and financial exposure..
India has emerged as one of Apple’s most important markets, both as a manufacturing hub and a consumer base.. The outcome of this legal battle could influence Apple’s long-term strategy in the country, including investment decisions and its relationship with local developers..
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear Apple’s plea later this month, a hearing that is expected to draw widespread attention from legal experts and industry observers.
The court’s decision on whether to grant interim relief may shape the future course of the investigation and India’s broader antitrust landscape..
As governments worldwide tighten scrutiny over Big Tech, the Apple case underscores the growing tension between national regulators and global corporations.
It also reflects India’s ambition to assert regulatory authority over digital markets while balancing investor confidence and innovation..
