A Delhi High Court has rejected Apple's attempt to pause an antitrust investigation by India's Competition Commission, ruling that the company must cooperate with the probe. The CCI found in 2024 that Apple abused its dominant position in the iPhone apps market and is now seeking financial data to calculate potential penalties.

Apple argues that the investigation should wait while it challenges the legality of India's updated competition law. The law permits fines based on global revenue rather than local earnings—a provision that could expose Apple to substantial penalties given its massive worldwide income. The court denied Apple's pause request but blocked any final ruling before July 15, giving the company temporary breathing room.

India represents one of Apple's fastest-growing markets, with iPhone market share rising from 4% to 9% over two years. The company has also expanded manufacturing through Foxconn and Tata as it diversifies away from China. This regulatory pressure complicates those strategic ambitions.

The case joins similar App Store battles in the US and Europe, where regulators have increasingly pushed back against Apple's control over app distribution and in-app payment systems. Global scrutiny of Big Tech's gatekeeper power continues intensifying.