India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded to the explosive allegations leveled by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) against Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and other executives. The DOJ indictment accuses them of orchestrating a $265 million bribery scheme to secure lucrative Indian solar power contracts, further alleging they misled US investors during fundraising efforts. This marks a significant development in an already contentious situation.
In a press briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal offered India’s official stance for the first time. He characterized the case as a purely legal matter between private firms and the DOJ, emphasizing that it is not a matter involving the Indian government. Jaiswal stated clearly, “This is a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the U.S. Department of Justice. There are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases which we believe would be followed.” He added that the Indian government was neither informed in advance of the indictment nor is it currently involved in any discussions related to the case.
The MEA’s statement further clarified India’s position on any potential requests for legal assistance from the US. Jaiswal explicitly stated that India has not yet received any requests for service of summons or arrest warrants from the US in connection with this case. He assured that any such future requests would be evaluated individually on their merits.
The Adani Group, facing accusations of bribery and investor fraud, has vehemently denied the charges, branding them as ‘baseless’ and promising to utilize all available legal avenues to defend themselves. This case has ignited a firestorm of political debate within India, with opposition parties accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of preferential treatment towards the Adani Group and hindering investigations into potential wrongdoing within the country.
The unfolding legal battle between the Adani Group and the US Department of Justice is poised to have significant ramifications, not only for the Adani Group’s business interests but also for the already tense US-India relationship. The MEA’s statement, while asserting India’s neutrality, underscores the complexity of this international legal dispute and the potential for further developments in the coming weeks and months. The global business community watches closely as this high-stakes case continues to unfold.
