Apple's ongoing antitrust dispute with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has escalated, with the tech giant accusing the CCI of exceeding its judicial authority in recent court filings. Central to the conflict is the calculation of potential penalties under India's revised competition law, which will take effect in 2024.
The law allows fines to be determined by a company's global revenue, which in Apple's case could lead to a staggering $38 billion penalty. Apple has consistently challenged this potential levy, labeling it as "manifestly arbitrary, unconstitutional, grossly disproportionate, unjust," and has sought to have the new law declared illegal by the Delhi High Court.
Recently, the CCI issued an ultimatum demanding that Apple submit its financial documents, claiming that the company's requests for extensions hinder the progress of the antitrust proceedings. In response, Apple filed a motion urging the Delhi High Court to intervene, asserting that the CCI's actions represent an escalation in its attempts to undermine the court's authority. A final hearing is scheduled for May 21, with Apple requesting that the court address the matter by May 15.