ED Questions Apple, Xiaomi in e-Commerce Probe of Amazon, Flipkart, iPhone, Macbook

A report by Reuters quoted sources who are aware of the case as saying that the ED has been questioned with Apple and Xiaomi during the ED investigation on the business methods of Amazon and Flipkart. These e-commerce companies are accused of stocking and controlling the goods listed on their platforms. Under the country’s law, foreign e-commerce companies have been banned for doing so. These companies can only act as a marketplace that connects buyers and sales.

The ED has written letters to smartphone companies including Apple and Xiaomi seeking data related to their online sales. A source associated with the industry said that the ED is investigating these smartphone companies with Amazon and Flipkart. Apple received instructions in this in March from ED. Apple, Flipkart and Amazon did not answer the request sent for comments on this issue. ED has not received a response about this. Xiaomi refused to comment on it.

Apple’s iPhone sales have increased rapidly in the last few years in India. Along with online sales, offline stores also have a major stake in it. Companies in the country can be launched soon. These Apple stores can be opened in DLF Mall of India in Uttar Pradesh and Kopa Mall in Pune. Apart from this, the company plans to open two additional stores. Apple’s current stores are in Delhi and Mumbai. Recently, a media report reported that Apple has fixed the location for its third and fourth stores in Noida and Pune. Apart from this, it is looking for location for two stores in Mumbai and Bengaluru.