Judge drops Adani bribery case, flags DOJ conduct
Federal judge ended the prosecution but questioned the evidence and process DOJ officials used to abandon it.
A US judge has dismissed bribery and fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, expressing concern over the Justice Department's decision to abandon the case. Adani and seven others were indicted in 2024 for allegedly paying Indian officials over $250 million in bribes to secure solar energy contracts and deceiving US investors about the scheme.
Adani denies any wrongdoing. The judge questioned the unusual process by which Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter decided to drop the charges, pointing out that McCotter made the decision in collaboration with Adani's defense counsel, without input from federal prosecutors. McCotter cited the large amount of India-related content in the indictment as a reason to avoid the case, but the judge found this reasoning insufficient.
The judge also highlighted discrepancies in McCotter's submitted documents. Adani has celebrated the dismissal, emphasizing his commitment to truth, fairness, and the rule of law. The criminal dismissal comes after other legal resolutions involving Adani, including a $18 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a $275 million resolution to an Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions probe.
The company has invested nearly $15 billion in various businesses and increased a planned share sale by 50%, signaling renewed investor confidence.
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