India said on Friday that the United States had not notified the Narendra Modi government beforehand of its decision to indict businessman Gautam Adani in a bribery case.
Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a weekly briefing, “This is a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice. There are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases which we believe would be followed. The Government of India was not informed in advance of the issue. We haven’t had any conversation also about this matter with the US government… Any request by a foreign government for the service of a summons/arrest warrant is part of mutual legal assistance. Such requests are examined on merits. We have not received any request on this case from the US side”.
US authorities indict Gautam Adani
On November 21, US authorities accused Gautam Adani of participating in a scheme to allegedly bribe Indian government officials for solar energy contracts totaling over $250 million.
The Adani Group promised to pursue “all possible legal recourse” and referred to the accusations as “baseless.”
Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), said in a stock exchange filing on Wednesday, “The US Department of Justice’s (US DOJ) indictment filed in a New York Court last week does not mention Gautam Adani, founder chairman of the ports-to-energy conglomerate, his nephew Sagar, or Vineet Jain in any count related to conspiracy to violate the FCPA”.
India is experiencing a political upheaval as a result of the US prosecution of Adani, with the Congress-led opposition parties encircling the Narendra Modi administration.
Rahul Gandhi said outside parliament, “You think the Adanis are going to accept the charges. Which world are you living in? Obviously, he is going to deny the charges. The point is he has to be arrested. As we have said, hundreds of people are being arrested on tiny charges and the gentleman has been indicted in the United States for thousands of crores. He should be in jail… The government is protecting him”.
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