DOJ Seeks Dismissal of Gautam Adani Bribery Case, Citing Foreign Scope

The U.S. Department of Justice has formally asked a federal judge to dismiss all criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, arguing that the case is largely foreign in nature, difficult to prove, and no longer aligns with the department’s current enforcement priorities under the Trump administration.

In a 10-page court filing submitted on Saturday, the Justice Department defended its decision after U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis requested an explanation for dropping the prosecution. The filing seeks to dismiss the charges with prejudice, preventing the case from being refiled against Adani and the other defendants.

According to the Justice Department, prosecutors under the previous administration pursued a weak case with little chance of reaching trial. The filing described the indictment, which was unsealed during the final days of the prior administration, as a “name and shame” effort that allegedly lacked a realistic path to conviction.

The department also argued that U.S. prosecutors should not devote resources to cases centered on foreign conduct that do not involve U.S. companies, criminal organizations, or national security concerns. It said the alleged payments involved Indian nationals working for Indian companies and were made to Indian government officials, with no direct U.S. interests affected.

Adani was charged in 2024 with securities fraud and wire fraud over allegations that he approved bribes to Indian officials to secure approvals for a solar energy project developed by an Adani Group subsidiary. Prosecutors also accused him of misleading U.S. investors about the company’s anti-corruption practices.

Adani Group has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that neither the company nor its chairman engaged in wrongdoing. Adani has not appeared in a U.S. court to respond to the charges.

The move marks another high-profile white-collar case the Justice Department has sought to end during President Donald Trump’s second term. While legal experts note that judges rarely force prosecutors to continue cases they want to abandon, the charges will remain pending until Judge Garaufis formally approves the dismissal.