New Delhi: India's Competition Commission (CCI) has rejected Apple's request to suspend an ongoing investigation that concluded the company had violated competition laws. The CCI's decision, as revealed in an internal order, allows the investigation into Apple's practices to proceed.

In August, the CCI had instructed a recall of certain investigation reports after Apple claimed that confidential commercial details were shared with competitors, including Match Group, which owns Tinder. Apple argued that these sensitive elements should have been redacted. As a result, the CCI required parties involved to return and destroy the original reports, issuing revised versions.

In November, Apple raised concerns about the non-compliance of the main complainant, the Indian nonprofit Together We Fight Society (TWFS), regarding the destruction of the initial reports. Apple urged the CCI to take action against TWFS for this alleged breach and requested that the updated investigation report be withheld. However, the CCI deemed Apple’s request "untenable" and decided to move forward with the investigation.

The ongoing probe centers around Apple’s practices in the app store market, specifically its alleged exploitation of its dominant position on the iOS platform to the disadvantage of developers, users, and payment processors. Apple has denied these allegations, maintaining that it is a minor player in India, where Android dominates the smartphone market.

Additionally, the CCI has requested Apple to submit its audited financial statements for the fiscal years 2021-2024 to assess potential fines. The investigation report will be reviewed by senior CCI officials before a final ruling is made.