Kathmandu— Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Tuesday welcomed the decision by a United States court to dismiss criminal charges against him and Sagar Adani, expressing his respect for the judicial process. The dismissal follows a request from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop the case, which alleged a bribery scheme linked to solar power contracts in India and misleading US investors. US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis granted the DOJ’s motion after determining that an investment pledge by the Adani Group did not influence the decision.

US Justice Department's Reasoning

The DOJ argued that the case, centered on alleged bribery of Indian officials by other Indians for contracts within India, was legally weak and primarily a matter for Indian authorities. In a detailed filing to the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the department stated the decision to seek dismissal “was not a close call,” emphasizing that pursuing the case would strain diplomatic relations and divert resources from domestic concerns. Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General R Trent McCotter affirmed that the securities fraud charges against Adani and Sagar Adani “should never have been brought,” citing significant jurisdictional hurdles under US securities laws.

Judge's Confirmation of Independence

US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, while dismissing the charges, confirmed he was satisfied that the reported investment pledge by the Adani Group did not influence the Justice Department’s decision to withdraw the case. The judge also acknowledged the limited role courts have in reviewing decisions by federal prosecutors to dismiss charges. He had previously inquired into the reasons for the DOJ's request before granting it.

Adani's Response

Following the court’s decision, Gautam Adani released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) expressing his gratitude and reaffirming his commitment to nation-building. “I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process,” he wrote. He also thanked those who maintained faith in him, the Indian justice system, and India's capacity for justice.

The dismissal of the charges marks a significant development in the case, which had drawn scrutiny over alleged corruption and its impact on US investors.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.