A US federal judge has approved the dismissal of bribery and fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, though the judge criticized the dismissal process as highly irregular.
A US District Court has ended criminal proceedings against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, with the Justice Department's request to drop charges being approved on Monday. The case, filed in 2024, alleged that Adani paid bribes to Indian officials to secure renewable energy contracts and misled US investors about these transactions. Adani and his companies have consistently maintained their innocence, and the businessman welcomed the court's decision, stating he accepted it with "humility" and "deep respect" for the judicial process.
Judge Nicholas Garaufis approved the dismissal while raising significant concerns about how the decision was reached. According to the 47-page ruling, the judge found that a Justice Department official, R Trent McCotter, worked directly with Adani's legal team on the dismissal without adequately consulting prosecutors and investigators who had led the original investigation. Garaufis described this approach as "highly unusual" and expressed concern that McCotter had effectively replaced the judgment of officials directly involved in the case.
The Justice Department had requested dismissal in May, arguing that much of the alleged conduct occurred outside US jurisdiction, making prosecution difficult. However, the timing of this request drew scrutiny from the judge. Adani had hired high-profile attorney Robert J Giuffra Jr, a lawyer close to President Donald Trump, who reportedly met with Justice Department officials. Additionally, Adani announced a $10 billion investment in the US and plans to create 15,000 jobs in November 2024. While the judge ultimately concluded this investment pledge did not influence the dismissal decision, he noted that the public could form its own conclusions about how such discussions might affect perceptions of judicial fairness.
The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled. However, Adani continues facing other US legal matters, including a $6 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission over investor disclosure issues and a $275 million settlement by Adani Enterprises regarding US sanctions violations on Iran. Both settlements were reached without admissions of wrongdoing.
