Apple has agreed to hand over its local financial data to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), a report has said, adding that the decision comes after a confidential CCI investigation concluded that the iPhone maker had abused its market position regarding the App Store. The move clears a hurdle in the high-profile case, bringing Apple one step closer to a potential penalty decision in one of its most critical global growth markets.Citing a confidential CCI order, Apple requested a “final extension” during a hearing to compile and submit its “India-specific financial information”. The antitrust body has accepted the request, giving the iPhone maker until June 25 to hand over the data, which it typically used to calculate financial penalties.What is the case and reason for delayThe case originally began in 2021 after complaints were filed by a non-profit group, Tinder-owner Match Group, and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), which is a coalition representing Indian startups. The core of the dispute centres around Apple’s in-app billing system, with investigators calling the App Store an “unavoidable trading partner” that unfairly blocks developers from using cheaper, third-party payment services.Previously, Apple flatly refused to supply its financial details and denied any wrongdoing. The company had been attempting to delay the antitrust proceedings while launching a separate court battle, the report noted. The CCI is empowered to penalize companies based on their total global turnover rather than just their revenue within India – and it may amount to up to $38 billion fine. However, the CCI repeatedly pushed back, clarifying that it only required Apple’s India-specific financials to move forward. After a judge ordered Apple to cooperate, the company finally relented on its stance regarding its local financial records. What is at stake for Apple in IndiaIndia represents a vital manufacturing and consumer hub for Apple as it actively tries to diversify its supply chain beyond China. According to data from Counterpoint Research, Apple’s iPhone market share in India has surged to 9%, up from a 2% just five years ago.Apple has consistently defended itself by arguing it is a minor player in India, where Google’s Android operating system completely dominates the landscape. In 2022, the CCI slapped Google with a $113 million fine for similar anticompetitive practices involving its in-app payment ecosystem.