Summary of this article
US may drop fraud and bribery charges against Gautam Adani
Adani has hired Donald Trump's personal lawyer for the case
India’s richest man, billionaire Gautam Adani, may soon get major relief in the United States, as reports suggest that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering dropping criminal bribery and fraud charges against him. The possible withdrawal of charges marks a dramatic shift in a case under the current President Donald Trump’s administration, which had earlier raised concerns about the Adani Group’s international business practices.
The case began in 2024 under former US President Joe Biden’s administration when US authorities accused Adani and some of his associates of being involved in a large bribery scheme linked to solar power contracts in India. Prosecutors had alleged that over $250 million in bribes were paid to Indian officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure energy deals. US regulators also claimed that investors and lenders were misled while the Adani Group raised billions of dollars from global markets.
According to reports, Adani recently hired a new legal team led by Robert Giuffra Jr., a senior lawyer at Sullivan & Cromwell and also one of US President Donald Trump’s personal attorneys. The legal team reportedly met officials at the Justice Department in Washington last month and argued that the US lacked enough evidence and jurisdiction to continue the case. Reports said that the lawyers presented a detailed case explaining why the charges should not move forward.
One of the most talked-about aspects of the report is Adani’s reported proposal to invest $10 billion in the US economy and create around 15,000 jobs. While prosecutors reportedly said that investment plans would not influence legal decisions, some officials were said to have reacted positively to the proposal.
At the same time, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is also said to be close to settling a parallel civil fraud case against Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani. Reports suggest the settlement could involve financial penalties, but without any admission of wrongdoing from the Adani side.
The possible withdrawal of charges comes at a politically sensitive time, as critics in the US are questioning whether business investments and political connections may have influenced the decisions. Some reports have pointed out the close ties between Adani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as Giuffra’s links to Trump.
The Adani Group has consistently denied all allegations and has called the accusations baseless. If the DOJ formally drops the charges, it would remove a major legal and reputational challenge for one of India’s biggest business conglomerates. Investors are also likely to closely watch how the development affects the group’s global expansion plans and market confidence in the coming months.
