A US Congressman has strongly opposed the outgoing Biden administration’s decision to investigate Indian business conglomerate Gautam Adani, stating that ‘selective prosecution’ over rumours abroad risks critical alliances with America’s key partners.
Republican Congressman Lance Gooden penned a sharply worded letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, criticizing the indictment of industrialist Gautam Adani and labelling it a “selective action” that could jeopardize Washington’s vital partnership with India.
“The Department of Justice’s selective actions threaten to harm critical alliances with key partners like India, one of America’s strongest allies in the Asia-Pacific region,” Gooden, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said in his January 7 letter, according to news agency PTI. He further urged the DOJ to prioritize addressing domestic misconduct over pursuing cases with limited jurisdiction and minimal relevance to U.S. interests.
On November 20, 2024, U.S. prosecutors charged Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and several executives from the Adani Group with orchestrating a $250 million bribery scheme to secure solar power project contracts in India. The indictment includes securities and wire fraud accusations, alleging the company misled U.S. investors about its anti-bribery policies while engaging in corruption.
A day later, the spokesperson for the Adani Group rubbished allegations against the Directors of ‘Adani Green’ by the US Department of Justice and the SEC.
“The allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against the directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied,” it stated.
“The Adani Group has always upheld and is steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions of its operations,” it pointed out.
The spokesperson for the Adani Group concluded, “We assure our stakeholders, partners and employees that we are a law-abiding organisation, fully compliant with all laws.”
