NEW YORK, United States — A US federal judge has formally dismissed the bribery and fraud case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani after the Trump administration moved to drop the charges over an alleged $265 million bribery scheme involving solar energy contracts in India.
Brooklyn federal judge Nicholas Garaufis approved prosecutors’ request to dismiss the case on Monday, bringing an end to the criminal proceedings that had been filed against Adani and other defendants in 2024.
US prosecutors had accused Adani of participating in a scheme to bribe Indian government officials in exchange for lucrative solar energy supply contracts.
The case was dropped after the US Department of Justice sought its dismissal in May. The move marked an unusual reversal in a high-profile federal corruption case and drew scrutiny from the judge overseeing the proceedings.
Judge questions how case was dropped
Garaufis raised concerns about the process followed by the Trump administration in seeking the dismissal.
The judge criticised the involvement of Deputy Associate Attorney General Trent McCotter, a Trump appointee, saying the decision appeared to have been reached largely in consultation with Adani’s defence team.
Garaufis noted that the process appeared to have occurred without input from Federal Bureau of Investigation and Securities and Exchange Commission investigators who had worked on the case, as well as prosecutors who had originally brought the charges.
The judge described the circumstances as highly unusual, although he ultimately granted the government’s request to dismiss the case.
The proceedings had attracted additional attention following reports that Adani’s lawyer, Robert Giuffra, told Justice Department officials in April that his client would be willing to invest $10 billion in the US economy if the charges were dropped.
Garaufis subsequently questioned whether the reported investment pledge had influenced the government’s decision.
The judge ultimately concluded that the investment proposal was not a factor in the prosecutors’ decision to seek dismissal.
Adani welcomes ruling
Adani welcomed the court’s decision, saying he respected the judicial process and remained confident in the rule of law.
“I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process,” Adani said in a statement posted on social media.
“Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering.”
The dismissal removes the immediate threat of prosecution in the United States over the allegations, although the case had already had significant implications for Adani and his business empire.
Adani Group’s global footprint
The Adani Group is one of India’s largest corporate conglomerates, with interests spanning ports, power generation, cement, infrastructure and media.
Adani has faced significant scrutiny in recent years following allegations of corporate misconduct and market manipulation, which contributed to a sharp decline in the group’s stock valuations.
The businessman is also a prominent supporter of US President Donald Trump and maintains close ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adani and Modi both come from Gujarat, the Indian state that has long been associated with the prime minister’s political base.
The US case had therefore attracted considerable political and business attention in both countries.
