US Judge Dismisses Gautam Adani Criminal Charges

A U.S. federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani after the Justice Department moved to abandon its fraud and bribery case, while raising concerns about how the decision was reached.

U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn approved federal prosecutors’ unusual request to dismiss the case after examining their reasoning. The judge had questioned whether Adani’s November 2024 pledge to invest $10 billion in the United States influenced the Justice Department’s decision.

Garaufis said he was satisfied that the investment commitment was not a factor. However, he criticized Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter for working with Adani’s defense attorneys on the dismissal without seeking input from prosecutors and federal agents who investigated the allegations.

The judge described aspects of the process as “concerning,” while emphasizing that courts have limited authority to review prosecutors’ decisions to withdraw criminal charges. He also clarified that dismissing the indictment did not mean he agreed with the Justice Department’s reasoning or had reached conclusions about the merits of the allegations.

Adani welcomed the court’s decision in a statement on X and expressed respect for the judicial process.

U.S. authorities charged Gautam Adani in 2024 over allegations that he agreed to bribe Indian government officials to help an Adani Group subsidiary secure approvals for a solar energy project. Prosecutors also accused him of misleading U.S. investors about the company’s anti-corruption practices. Adani Group has consistently denied wrongdoing.

McCotter argued in a July 4 filing that the case was largely foreign in nature, difficult to prove and inconsistent with the Justice Department’s current enforcement priorities.

In separate civil proceedings brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Gautam Adani agreed to pay $6 million, while his nephew Sagar Adani agreed to pay $12 million. Adani Enterprises Limited also agreed separately to pay $275 million to the U.S. Treasury Department to resolve alleged Iran sanctions violations.

Garaufis has requested additional information before deciding whether charges against other defendants should also be dismissed. He said it was ultimately for the public to assess how monetary offers connected to resolving criminal cases could affect perceptions of equal justice and the rule of law.