New Delhi: Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has won the dismissal of criminal charges brought against him in the United States, bringing an end to a high-profile legal case that had raised concerns over the global expansion of his business empire.
US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn dismissed the criminal case on Monday after the Justice Department sought to abandon the prosecution. The case had accused Adani and others of involvement in an alleged bribery scheme linked to a solar energy project in India. Adani and the Adani Group have consistently denied wrongdoing.
Judge raises concerns over dismissal
While approving the dismissal, Judge Garaufis expressed concerns about the way the Justice Department decided to end the case. He said senior official Trent McCotter appeared to have bypassed the views of federal investigators and prosecutors who had worked on the matter.
The judge said the irregularities surrounding the decision were concerning, while also acknowledging that the court’s authority to interfere with federal prosecutors’ decision-making was limited.
The Justice Department had argued that the case was primarily foreign, difficult to prove and inconsistent with its current priorities. Prosecutors also maintained that the alleged conduct involved Indian nationals, Indian companies and Indian government officials, with no significant US interests involved.
Adani welcomes court decision
Adani welcomed the dismissal, saying he accepted the US court’s decision with humility and respect for the judicial process. The case had been filed in 2024 during the final days of the Biden administration.
A related civil case by the US Securities and Exchange Commission was separately resolved, with Adani agreeing to pay $6 million and his nephew Sagar Adani agreeing to pay $12 million. Adani Enterprises also agreed to pay $275 million to settle alleged US sanctions violations concerning Iran.
The dismissal marks a significant legal development for Adani, although the judge made clear that his decision should not be interpreted as an assessment of whether the original allegations were true or false.