Justice Department seeks to drop charges against Gautam Adani

The Justice Department has informed a U.S. District Court that it wishes to drop charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, who had been accused of securities fraud and wire fraud related to an alleged bribery scheme. In a 10-page filing, prosecutors argued that the case is primarily foreign, involves no U.S. interests, and has a low probability of success, making it inconsistent with the agency's current priorities.

U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis had previously ordered prosecutors to justify their decision to drop the case. The Justice Department contended that the indictment, unsealed in the final days of the previous administration, was a 'name and shame' tactic without a realistic prospect of trial. They asserted that U.S. government attorneys should not prosecute cases involving alleged conduct by foreign nationals for foreign companies that do not affect national security.

Adani was charged in 2024 with agreeing to bribe Indian government officials to secure approval for a solar energy plant development by a subsidiary of his Adani Group, and subsequently misleading U.S. investors about his company's anti-corruption practices. Adani Group has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and Adani himself has not appeared in U.S. court to face the charges. Legal experts note that judges have limited discretion to compel prosecutors to pursue cases they no longer wish to prosecute, but the charges remain officially pending until dismissed by the judge.