Google abused the dominant position of its Android operating system in India, using its “huge financial muscle” to illegally hurt competitors, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has found in a report on its two-year probe, which has been seen by the Reuters. 

Alphabet’s Google reduced “the ability and incentive of device manufacturers to develop and sell devices operating on alternative versions of Android,” says the June report by the CCI’s investigations unit. 

The US technology giant has told the Reuters in a statement that it looks forward to working with the CCI to “demonstrate how Android has led to more competition and innovation, not less”. 

Google has not received the investigation report, a person with direct knowledge of the situation has told the Reuters. 

The CCI did not respond to a request for comment on the report. Senior CCI members would review the report and give Google another chance to defend itself before issuing a final order, which could include penalties, said another person familiar with the case. Google would be able to appeal any order in India’s courts. 

The CCI’s findings are the latest antitrust setback for Google in India, where it faces several probes in the payments app and smart television markets. The company has been investigated in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. This week, South Korea’s antitrust regulator fined Google $180 million for blocking customised versions of Android.