4 hours Ago By Priya Singh
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly requested sales data and other documentation from smartphone companies, including Apple and Xiaomi, as part of its ongoing investigation into Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart. The move is aimed at examining whether these tech firms were involved in potentially unlawful marketplace practices on the e-commerce platforms. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked smartphone makers like Apple and Xiaomi to share sales data and other documents as part of its ongoing probe into Amazon and Flipkart.
The ED has asked Apple and Xiaomi to share sales data and other documents as part of its ongoing...
pic.twitter.com/PNwi0E3hTa — Inc42 (@Inc42) April 30, 2025 This development comes at a critical time, as India and the United States are inching closer to a trade deal.
India’s restrictive e-commerce regulations have been a key topic in those negotiations, with U.S. officials pushing for broader access and fewer constraints on foreign e-commerce players operating in the Indian market.
ALSO SEE: Apple Unveils ‘Snapshot’ To Help Fans Discover Celebrities At A Glance The ED has been probing Amazon and Flipkart for allegedly violating Indian laws that bar foreign-owned platforms from holding or controlling inventory directly. These companies are only allowed to act as neutral intermediaries between sellers and buyers. Small traders in India claim such violations, combined with heavy online discounting, have severely impacted their businesses.
Both Amazon and Flipkart have denied wrongdoing, asserting full compliance with local laws. ED is probing these smartphone companies’ data to find out if there are any financial contracts signed by them for online sales on e-commerce platforms. Read more: https://t.
co/rbPFnOMAqp #EDInvestigation #Apple #Xiaomi #Flipkart #Amazon — Outlook Business (@outlookbusiness) April 29, 2025 In recent weeks, India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has contacted smartphone makers including Apple and Xiaomi to obtain data on their online sales and financial agreements related to Amazon and Flipkart. According to unnamed sources, the agency is investigating possible financial arrangements and exclusive online sales deals between these phone manufacturers and the e-commerce platforms. Apple reportedly received this request in March, while Xiaomi declined to comment, and neither Amazon, Flipkart, nor the ED provided a response.
The probe is part of a broader effort to scrutinize e-commerce practices in India, where the online retail market is projected to reach $160 billion by 2028. A government official emphasized that phone makers are being approached only for information and are not currently accused of wrongdoing. However, penalties could be levied against e-commerce platforms if violations are found.
This comes amid ongoing antitrust proceedings from last year that accused Amazon and Flipkart of favoring select sellers and collaborating with smartphone brands like Samsung and Xiaomi on exclusive launches—allegations the companies have not publicly addressed..
