US judge dismisses criminal case against Indian billionaire Adani

Key facts

• A U.S. judge dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.
• The Justice Department decided to abandon the fraud and bribery case.
• The case involved allegations of bribery and misleading U.S. investors.
• Adani had previously pledged a $10 billion investment in the U.S.
• Adani denied any agreement to exchange investment for the dismissal of charges.

A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, following the Justice Department's decision to abandon the fraud and bribery case. Brooklyn-based U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis granted the prosecutors' request to toss the case after inquiring into their reasons. The Justice Department cited the case's foreign nature, difficulty in proving it, and inconsistency with current priorities. Adani had been charged with agreeing to bribe Indian government officials for a subsidiary's solar energy plant approval and misleading U.S. investors. Adani Group has consistently denied wrongdoing. In November 2024, before charges were unsealed, Adani had pledged to invest $10 billion in the United States. In a sworn declaration, Adani denied any agreement to exchange investment for the dismissal of the indictment, though his lawyers had previously informed the Justice Department that the investment pledge "might be part of a resolution." The Justice Department stated it would not consider the investment as part of any resolution. Legal experts note that judges have limited discretion to compel prosecutors to continue cases they no longer wish to pursue, but judicial approval is required for formal dismissal.