The Indian Competition Commission has denied Apple’s request to halt the release of a revised investigative report accusing the company of abusing its dominant position in the iOS app store market.
Apple had raised concerns about confidential information being disclosed to competitors and alleged non-compliance by the complainant, Together We Fight Society, with a directive to destroy an earlier version of the report.
Despite these claims, the CCI found no grounds to delay the case, which alleges anti-competitive practices by Apple, a charge the company denies.
The CCI has directed Apple to provide audited financial statements for the fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.
These documents will help determine potential penalties if the company is found guilty of anti-competitive practices. Senior officials at the CCI will review the investigative report before issuing a final ruling on the matter.
“Apple’s request to the investigation request in abeyance was deemed untenable,” the CCI said in the order.
The CCI did not provide a response outside regular business hours on Sunday, and representatives of Together We Fight Society (TWFS) were unavailable for comment.
The investigation by the CCI concluded that Apple leveraged its dominant position in the iOS app store market to disadvantage app developers, users, and payment processors.
Apple has rejected the allegations, arguing that it is a minor player in India, where Android smartphones dominate the market.
Senior officials at the Competition Commission of India will review the investigation report before making a final ruling on the case.
