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Apple challenges $38 billion India antitrust penalty law

Apple Inc. has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging India’s 2024 amendment to the Competition Act, which allows fines based on a company’s global turnover. The move could expose Apple to a potential penalty of up to $38 billion (around ₹3 lakh crore).

The legal dispute stems from a 2022 antitrust probe by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which accused Apple of abusing its dominance on the iOS App Store by restricting third-party payment options. Apple denies any wrongdoing and says its Indian market share remains small compared to Android, despite significant user growth.

In a detailed 545-page petition, Apple described the law as “arbitrary, unconstitutional, grossly disproportionate and unjust,” arguing that any fine should be limited to revenue earned in India from the specific business under investigation. The company warned that retroactive application of the law could unfairly penalise past practices.

A hearing is scheduled for 3 December 2025, marking the first major test of India’s revised competition-law penalty system against a global technology company.

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