Apple filed a motion with the Delhi High Court on January 15 2026 to halt the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) request for the company’s global financial statements as part of an antitrust probe into its App Store policies. The filing follows a private order issued by the CCI on December 31 2025 that sought the financial data and a warning issued in early January that Apple had not responded to the request. The court is scheduled to hear the case on January 27 2026.
Apple’s motion challenges the validity of India’s 2024 penalty rules, specifically Section 27(b) of the Competition Act, which allows the CCI to calculate fines based on a company’s global turnover. Apple argues that applying global turnover to a company whose Indian revenue is relatively small would result in an unenforceable penalty of up to $38 billion, a figure that would far exceed the company’s Indian market share. By blocking the data request, Apple seeks to pause the entire investigation until the legal challenge is resolved.
The CCI’s request is part of a broader antitrust investigation that began in July 2024 and has focused on allegations that Apple’s App Store practices give it an unfair advantage over competitors. The commission has repeatedly warned Apple about delays in providing information, and the private order was intended to compel compliance. Apple’s legal strategy is to prevent the commission from accessing financial data that could be used to calculate the penalty, thereby protecting its financial position and limiting regulatory exposure in a key market.
If the court grants Apple’s motion, the CCI would be unable to obtain the requested financial records, potentially delaying or limiting the scope of the investigation. A decision against Apple would allow the commission to proceed with the data request and could lead to a significant fine, affecting Apple’s profitability and its ability to operate the App Store in India. The outcome will also signal how aggressively India will enforce its antitrust rules against multinational technology firms.
Apple’s move reflects a broader trend of global antitrust scrutiny of major tech companies. Similar challenges have been seen in the United States, the European Union, and other jurisdictions. The company’s legal action underscores its willingness to use the courts to shape the regulatory environment and protect its financial interests in markets where it faces intense scrutiny.
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