US judge dismisses Adani bribery case, questions DOJ's withdrawal process

Published Aug 12, 01:55 PM UTC

A US federal judge has dismissed bribery and fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, while sharply criticizing the Justice Department's decision to abandon the case. Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York ruled that the dismissal was 'highly unusual' and questioned the process used by Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter, who made the decision largely in collaboration with Adani's defense counsel and without input from federal prosecutors or investigators. The judge also raised concerns about the authenticity of documents submitted by McCotter. The case, stemming from 2024 allegations that Adani paid over $250 million in bribes to Indian officials for solar energy contracts, has been dropped. Adani welcomed the decision, while the ruling leaves the DOJ facing scrutiny. Separately, Adani Group has resolved other legal issues, including paying $18 million to settle an SEC civil fraud case and $275 million to resolve an OFAC sanctions probe, and recently announced nearly $15 billion in investment commitments.