New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) told the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday that it can complete the ongoing antitrust probe into Google Play Store policies within 60 days.
Additional Solicitor General N.N. Venkataraman, who appeared on behalf of the competition watchdog.
Google said it would cooperate with the CCI’s investigation and withdrew its writ petition filed in the Karnataka HC last month, seeking more time to respond to the anti-trust probe by the CCI.
The petition for interim relief was filed by the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) in the CCI last October.
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Google, in its writ petition, had argued that “there is no urgency”, citing the extension in the deadline of their Play Store policy.
Sijo Kuruvilla George, executive director of ADIF, said: “By telling the court that the CCI is expected to complete its investigation in 60 days, the antitrust regulator has essentially taken advantage of legal challenges to delay the overall antitrust investigation process by Google. The effort has been stopped.” Which is an industry body representing over 450 digital startups.
ADIF said that the Commission is of the prima facie view that such a policy is unfair as it restricts the ability of app developers to choose the payment processing system of their choice.
“We are now waiting for the CCI report, which is to be released in 60 days, as told to the High Court today,” George said.
Google said in December that it was extending the deadline for developers in India from March 31, 2022 to October 31, 2022 to help them better integrate with the Play Store’s billing system.
“We recognize the unique needs of the developer ecosystem in India and are committed to partnering with developers in India on their growth journey,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.
George said ADIF “encourages Google to fully comply with antitrust investigations in good faith”.
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