Summary: On Monday, US Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis formally dismissed the bribery and fraud case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. Expressing dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s unusual process in dropping the prosecution, Judge Garaufis raised questions about the rationale behind the decision. 26 Shrawan, New York (RASAS/AFP).
The US federal judge officially dismissed the bribery and fraud allegations against Indian billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani on Monday. Following the Trump administration’s decision not to proceed with prosecution against Adani, Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis of Brooklyn accepted the prosecutors’ motion to dismiss. Court records show that prosecutors had requested in May 2024 to dismiss charges alleging Adani engaged in a $26.5 million bribery scheme to secure a lucrative solar energy supply contract from Indian officials. Judge Garaufis formally granted that request.
Though the US Department of Justice decided to dismiss the charges, Judge Garaufis voiced concerns over the process. He described as unusual the fact that Deputy Associate Attorney General under the Trump administration, Trent MacCouter, made the dismissal decision without adequate consultation with the investigators and prosecutors involved. The judge noted that MacCouter’s collaboration with defense attorneys did not appear to have been formally ordered by the court, nor was essential information obtained from FBI agents, SEC officials, and the prosecutors responsible for the case—an extraordinary departure from normal procedure.
Earlier American media reported that Adani’s attorney, Robert Giffe, who also serves as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, had conveyed to the Justice Department officials in April that if the charges were dropped, Adani would be willing to invest $1 billion in the US economy. The presiding judge questioned whether this supposed investment commitment by Adani’s side factored into the government’s decision to dismiss prosecution. It is extremely rare in the federal legal system for the prosecution to seek dismissal of a serious case already filed with the court. Ultimately, Judge Garaufis concluded that the purported investment pledge was not a basis for dismissing the charges.
US prosecutors had accused Adani and his associates in 2024 of planning to bribe Indian officials to secure favorable solar energy contracts. They also alleged that Adani misled investors and violated laws related to US financial markets. Following the dismissal of the case, Adani welcomed the US court’s decision. On social media, he said he accepted the judicial ruling with humility and deep respect for the legal process and reaffirmed his unwavering belief in truth, fairness, and the rule of law during challenging times.
The Adani Group is one of India’s largest conglomerates, operating in areas such as ports, power plants, cement factories, energy, and media. Adani is among India’s wealthiest industrialists but has been embroiled in controversy in recent years following allegations of corporate fraud and significant declines in his company’s stock value. He is also known as a close associate of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hails from Modi’s home state of Gujarat. On social media, Adani has been an outspoken supporter of former US President Donald Trump. With this latest US court ruling, the criminal prosecution pending against him in the United States has now been formally closed.
