A US judge on Monday dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani after the Justice Department decided to abandon a long-running fraud and bribery case against him.
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Brooklyn-based US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis approved federal prosecutors’ request to dismiss the case after seeking further clarification on why they wanted to drop the charges. The judge had also asked Adani whether he was aware of any agreement involving a promise or benefit in exchange for the dismissal.
Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, welcomed the court’s decision and said his faith in the legal process had remained firm throughout the case.
"I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process. Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering. My deepest gratitude to those who never lost faith in us, in the system and in India’s capacity for justice. We will continue doing what matters: building for our nation, creating value that outlasts us and serving a purpose larger than ourselves. That is our commitment"
The charges against Adani were filed in 2024. US prosecutors accused him of misleading American investors by providing assurances about the company’s anti-corruption practices.
The Adani Group has consistently denied wrongdoing, while Adani himself had not appeared in a US court to respond to the allegations.
The Justice Department announced on May 18 that it would no longer pursue the prosecution, saying the case was primarily foreign, difficult to prove and inconsistent with the agency’s current priorities.
In a July 4 court filing, senior Justice Department official Trent McCotter also rejected reports that the decision was linked to Adani’s pledge to invest $10 billion in the United States. He said such reports were false.
The judge had sought assurances after questioning the circumstances surrounding the dismissal. In response, Adani said in a sworn declaration filed on July 15 that he was not aware of any agreement exchanging anything for the dismissal of the indictment.
