New Delhi | Jan 15, 2026 — GeokHub Indian regulators have issued a final warning to Apple, signaling they will move ahead with a long-running antitrust case after accusing the U.S. tech giant of delaying proceedings for more than a year, according to a confidential regulatory order reviewed.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said Apple’s repeated requests for more time to respond to an investigation into its App Store practices have undermined procedural discipline and slowed the case’s resolution.
Potential Multibillion-Dollar Penalty
Apple has warned it could face penalties of up to $38 billion if India’s competition watchdog applies a calculation based on the company’s global turnover. The investigation found that Apple abused its dominant position in the iOS app ecosystem — allegations the company strongly denies.
Apple has challenged India’s penalty framework in the Delhi High Court, and that legal dispute is still being heard.
Regulator Rejects Apple’s Bid to Pause Case
Despite the ongoing court challenge, a December 31 order from the CCI shows Apple privately asked regulators to pause the antitrust proceedings entirely until the penalty rules are settled. The request was rejected.
The watchdog said it had asked Apple as far back as October 2024 to submit formal objections to the investigation’s findings and provide financial disclosures typically used to determine fines. Regulators said Apple had been granted multiple extensions but failed to comply.
“The Commission is of the considered view that repeated extensions, despite unambiguous directions, undermine procedural discipline and impede the timely conclusion of proceedings,” the CCI said.
The regulator added that such delays could not continue indefinitely and warned it would proceed unilaterally if Apple does not respond by next week.
Apple Pushes Back
Apple did not respond to request for comment. However, a source familiar with the matter said the company views the CCI’s order as an attempt to preempt ongoing court proceedings and is unlikely to submit a response before the High Court hears the case again on January 27.
Wider Industry Impact
The case forms part of a broader clash between Apple and developers in India. Since 2022, firms including Match Group, the owner of Tinder, along with several Indian startups, have accused Apple of unfair practices related to app distribution and in-app payments.
In 2024, investigators concluded Apple had engaged in “abusive conduct” within India’s iOS app market, intensifying regulatory scrutiny of the company’s business model in one of its fastest-growing markets.
