US judge dismisses criminal case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani

On Monday, a US judge dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his associate Vneet Jaain, ending a lengthy legal battle. The dismissal came after the US government agreed to a settlement with the Adanis, who will pay $18 million without admitting guilt. Judge Nicholas Garaufis also expressed concerns over irregularities in the Trump Justice Department's decision to stop pursuing the charges.

The case, which stemmed from a $265 million bribery scheme and allegations of lying about anti-corruption activities, involved the Adani group and associates. However, the judge reserved judgement on bribery and obstruction of justice charges for other defendants. In a separate civil case, the US Securities and Exchange Commission also dismissed charges against the Adanis, who paid $18 million.

Judge Garaufis directed the DOJ to provide reasons for dismissing the indictment, criticizing the decision as "terse, bland and conclusory." The judge also noted that the Adani group's promise to invest $10 billion in the US did not influence the government's decision to end legal proceedings.