US court dismisses fraud and bribery case against Gautam Adani

The U.S. has dismissed criminal charges against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and former Adani Green Energy CEO Vneet Jaain. What exactly did the U.S. case allege, why did prosecutors bring charges, and why were they dismissed?

Responding to the ruling, Gautam Adani said, "Truth has prevailed," adding that he respected the judicial process and expressed gratitude to those who had supported the Adani Group during the proceedings. He also reaffirmed the conglomerate's commitment to "nation-building" and "long-term value creation."

Gautam Adani has won the dismissal of US fraud charges that threatened his global ambitions. After months of legal maneuvering, a major hurdle is gone, potentially clearing the way for the Indian billionaire to expand in the US. (Source: Bloomberg)

A U.S. court has dismissed the fraud and bribery case against Gautam Adani after prosecutors decided to drop the charges. The case involved allegations of a $265 million bribery scheme linked to solar energy contracts in India. The Adani Group has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Shares of Adani Group companies rose in early trade on Tuesday after a US court dismissed fraud-related charges against group founder and chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani.The relief from the US legal proceedings triggered gains across Adani stocks, even as the broader Indian equity market faced selling pressure due to rising crude oil prices. Adani Enterprises, the group’s flagship company, gained 2.6% to ₹3,080 on the BSE, while Adani Ports rose 1.5% in opening trade.Adani Green Energy was the biggest gainer among group companies, rising 3.5%. Adani Energy Solutions, Adani Power, Adani Total Gas and NDTV advanced between 1% and 2%. Cement companies ACC and Ambuja Cement also traded higher by around 0.5%. I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process.Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering.My deepest gratitude to those who never lost faith in us, in the system and in…— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) August 10, 2026 US court dismisses charges against Adani executivesThe case against Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani was filed in 2024 during the final days of the Joe Biden administration. US prosecutors had accused them of agreeing to pay bribes worth around $250 million to Indian government officials to secure approval for a solar energy project.Authorities had also alleged that investors were misled while the Adani Group raised more than $3 billion through loans and bond issuances in US markets.The Adani Group has repeatedly denied the allegations.US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis dismissed the charges with prejudice, meaning the government cannot reopen the case in the future. In a statement shared on X, Gautam Adani welcomed the court’s decision and expressed respect for the judicial process.Judge Garaufis approved the US Justice Department’s request to drop the case after seeking further clarification from prosecutors regarding their decision. Adani Group Transforms Chhattisgarh’s Surguja Mine Into Green Landscape With 1.6 Million Trees; Targets 4 Million By Decade-End Ruling may support Adani’s US expansion plansBefore dismissing the charges, the judge directed the Justice Department to publicly explain its reasons for seeking withdrawal of the case. He also required the defendants to submit sworn statements confirming there was no promise, agreement or undisclosed arrangement connected with the dismissal request. The judge said he was satisfied that Gautam Adani’s November 2024 announcement of a planned $10 billion investment in the US had no role in the Justice Department’s decision to withdraw the case.The court order has removed a major legal hurdle for the conglomerate, with reports suggesting that the ruling could help Adani expand its business presence in the US.The market reaction reflected investor relief, with Adani Group stocks gaining despite cautious sentiment across Indian equities.

The judge, however, criticised the way the Justice Department decided to drop the case.

US judge says Justice Department’s decision to drop charges against Indian billionaire ‘highly unusual’

A U.S. federal judge has approved the Department of Justice's decision to dismiss the criminal probe against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani on graft charges.

<p>A US court has dismissed criminal charges against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani with prejudice</p>

However, the court criticised a senior Justice Department official’s conduct in the case.

New Delhi: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Tuesday welcomed a US court's decision to dismiss criminal charges against him, saying he had "deep respect for the judicial process."I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process.Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering.My deepest gratitude to those who never lost faith in us, in the system and in…— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) August 10, 2026 In a post on X, Adani wrote, "I welcome the US court's decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process. Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering. My deepest gratitude to those who never lost faith in us, in the system and in India's capacity for justice. We will continue doing what matters: building for our nation, creating value that outlasts us and serving a purpose larger than ourselves. That is our commitment. Jai Hind."Adani Electricity Distributes Garments, Boosts Monsoon Readiness Across Mumbai Network According to Reuters, on Monday US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, dismissed criminal charges against Gautam and Sagar Adani.The judge's decision to grant federal prosecutors' the right to withdraw the charges came after he inquired into their reasons for doing so.While dismissing the charges against Adani, the Judge said he was satisfied that the reported investment pledge by the Adani Group did not influence the Justice Department's decision. He also noted that judges have a limited role in reviewing federal prosecutors' decisions to seek dismissal of charges.Adani Proposes ₹1 Lakh Crore AI Data Centre In Odisha, Seeks 250 Acres Land The case against Gautam Adani and others had alleged a bribery scheme linked to solar power contracts in India which further allegedly misled US investors. In May this year the US DoJ had moved to dismiss these charges following which the US Court of the Eastern District of New York has sought a reply from the DoJ. With that reply cementing the US DoJ's position, legal experts argue that the Judge in all likelihood would back the DoJ stand.Earlier on July 4, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has told thel judge that the criminal case against Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and other defendants "should never have been brought," urging the court to permanently dismiss all charges while arguing that the prosecution was legally weak, largely centred on India, and no longer served the interests of justice.Adani Defence Becomes 1st Private Firm To Develop IAF's Advanced AEW&C Platform With DRDO In a detailed filing submitted to the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the DOJ defended its earlier request to dismiss the case with prejudice after the court sought a fuller explanation for the move. The department said that after an extensive review, "the decision to seek dismissal was not a close call."The DOJ said the case was overwhelmingly connected to India, noting that the allegations involved "several Indians... allegedly tried to bribe other Indians... to get Indian contracts to provide Indian electricity to Indians in India."It added that "the United States pretending to be the world police can cause diplomatic strife and also wastes resources better spent on domestic concerns. India can better manage its internal systems than can prosecutors in Brooklyn and Washington."Adani Enterprises Denies Plans To Launch Airline Business Separately, the DOJ said the securities fraud charges against Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani lacked a sound legal foundation, stating, "The securities charges should never have been brought." It argued that the alleged conduct occurred almost entirely in India and that the case faced significant jurisdictional hurdles under US securities laws.The filing also rejected media reports suggesting the dismissal was linked to proposed investments by the Adani Group in the United States. "I would have sought dismissal of the securities charges regardless of any mentions of investments," Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General R Trent McCotter wrote, adding that "the mention of potential investments could not have played any role." (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

US court permanently dismisses criminal charges against Adani chairman Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani.

The U.S. alleged Adani was part of a scheme to pay more than $250 million in bribes to lock in solar energy contracts — allegations Adani consistently denied.

However, the court criticised a senior Justice Department official’s conduct in the case.

Billionaire Gautam Adani on Tuesday welcomed a US court’s decision to dismiss criminal charges against him, saying his faith in “truth, fairness and the rule of law” had remained unwavering through the legal battle.“I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process,” Adani said in a statement posted on X.Also read: US judge dismisses criminal case against billionaire Gautam Adani“Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering,” he said, thanking those who continued to have faith in his group, the legal system and “India’s capacity for justice”.The statement came after US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis dismissed the criminal charges against Adani following the US Justice Department’s decision to abandon the fraud and bribery prosecution.“We will continue doing what matters: building for our nation, creating value that outlasts us and serving a purpose larger than ourselves,” Adani said. “That is our commitment. Jai Hind.”— gautam_adani (@gautam_adani) US judge dismisses fraud and bribery chargesThe Brooklyn-based judge granted federal prosecutors’ request to drop the case after seeking further explanations for the Justice Department’s decision, Reuters reported.The Justice Department had said it would no longer pursue the case, describing it as primarily foreign, difficult to prove and inconsistent with its current priorities. The department’s decision required judicial approval because criminal charges cannot be formally dismissed solely at prosecutors’ request.The case had drawn scrutiny after Garaufis questioned whether anything had been promised in exchange for the dismissal. In a sworn declaration filed on July 15, Adani said he was not aware of any such agreement.Adani also acknowledged that he had previously pledged to invest $10 billion in the United States, while saying his lawyers had told the Justice Department that the commitment “might be part of a resolution of these matters”. His lawyer subsequently said the Justice Department had told him that the group’s willingness to invest in the US would not be considered as part of any resolution.Also read: Inside the legal campaign that freed Gautam Adani from US prosecutionAdani had denied wrongdoingAdani was charged in 2024 with allegedly agreeing to bribe Indian government officials to secure approval for an Adani Group subsidiary to develop a solar energy project, and with allegedly misleading US investors about the group’s anti-corruption practices.The Adani Group has consistently denied wrongdoing. Adani himself did not appear in US court to respond to the charges.The Justice Department announced on May 18 that it would no longer pursue the prosecution. The move was the latest instance in which federal prosecutors sought to abandon a high-profile white-collar criminal case during US President Donald Trump’s second term, according to Reuters.Before the charges were unsealed in November 2024, Adani had pledged to invest $10 billion in the United States.

The ruling came with sharp criticism of the Justice Department’s handling of the prosecution, with Judge Nicholas Garaufis questioning the unusual process followed by senior officials in abandoning the case

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Tuesday welcomed a US court's decision to dismiss criminal charges against him, saying he had "deep respect for the judicial process."

Court grants federal prosecutors' rare bid to toss the case after the US justice department decided to abandon fraud and bribery charges.

A federal judge dismissed fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani at the DOJ's request. But in an unusual twist, he refused to dismiss charges against some co-defendants and criticized the DOJ's handling of the case.

US judge drops criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani

The Adani Group has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing

A US judge on Monday dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, after the Justice Department said it had decided to abandon the fraud and bribery case. Brooklyn-based US District Judge Nicholas ‌Garaufis’ decision to grant federal prosecutors’ rare bid to toss the case came after he inquired into their reasons for doing so, including by asking Adani whether anything was promised in exchange for the dropping of the case. In November 2024, before the charges were unsealed,...

Gautam Adani won dismissal of US securities fraud charges, ending a blockbuster case that threatened the expansion of the Indian billionaire’s giant conglomerate.

Justice department says it decided to abandon fraud and bribery case in which Adani Group has denied wrongdoingA US judge on ⁠Monday dismissed criminal charges against the Indian ⁠billionaire Gautam Adani, after ​the justice department said it had decided to abandon the fraud and bribery case.The Brooklyn-based district judge Nicholas Garaufis’s decision to grant federal prosecutors’ rare bid to ⁠toss the case came after he inquired into their reasons for doing so, including by asking Adani whether anything was promised in exchange for the dropping of the case. In November 2024, before ⁠the charges were unsealed, Adani had promised to invest $10bn in the United States. Continue reading...

A US judge has dismissed criminal charges ‌against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.

A US judge has dismissed criminal charges ‌against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.

Gautam Adani won dismissal of US securities fraud charges, ending a blockbuster case that threatened the expansion of the Indian billionaire’s giant conglomerate.