US judge dismisses Adani bribery case, slams DOJ for abandoning prosecution

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 questioned the 'highly unusual' process, noting that Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter made the decision largely without input from prosecutors or investigators. McCotter argued the case was primarily a foreign matter, but the judge countered that US-related terms appeared nearly as often as 'India' in the indictment. The dismissal removes a major legal cloud for Adani Group, which has since announced nearly $15 billion in investment commitments and increased a share sale. Adani welcomed the decision, while the ruling leaves the DOJ facing scrutiny over its handling of the high-profile international corruption prosecution.