A group of six US Congressmen has called on Attorney General Pamela Bondi to investigate the DOJ’s legal actions against the Adani Group, expressing concerns that the indictment could harm US-India relations. They criticize the Biden administration for selectively prosecuting cases without justifiable interest for the US, risking crucial diplomatic ties with India.
A group of six US Congressmen has urged Attorney General Pamela Bondi to review the “questionable” legal actions taken by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) against the Adani Group during President Joe Biden’s administration.
In a letter sent on Monday, Congressmen Lance Gooden, Pat Fallon, Mike Haridopolos, Brandon Gill, William R. Timmons, and Brian Babin expressed concerns that the indictment against Adani Group risked damaging relations with India, a key US ally.
The letter highlights concerns over the Biden administration’s selective prosecution and its impact on US-India relations.
“Some of these decisions involved selectively pursuing and abandoning cases, often acting against America’s interests at home and abroad, jeopardizing relationships with close allies like India. This historical partnership and continuous dialogue between friends, however, was put at risk due to some unwise decisions by the Biden administration,”
the letter states.
Regarding the Adani Group case, the Congressmen argued that the DOJ’s actions lacked justification and unnecessarily strained diplomatic ties:
“One such decision involves a questionable pursuit of a case against the Adani group, an Indian company whose executives are situated in India. This case rests on the allegation that preparations were made by members of this company in India to bribe Indian officials, also exclusively located in India. Instead of deferring the case to the appropriate Indian authorities, the Biden DOJ decided to push forward and indict the company’s executives without any real injury to US interests being present.”
On November 20, 2024, US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and several top executives from his conglomerate, Adani Group, with orchestrating a $250 million bribery scheme. The allegations claim that the company bribed Indian officials to secure solar power contracts, violating US securities and anti-bribery laws.
The DOJ indictment names Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and several associates, accusing them of:
- Securities and wire fraud
- Lying to US investors about anti-bribery compliance
- Widespread corruption in securing green energy contracts
The Adani Group has strongly denied all charges, calling them “baseless”.
“The charges made by the US Department of Justice and SEC against directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied,”
the company said in a statement, vowing to fight the case vigorously.
The Congressmen linked the case to economic diplomacy, suggesting that the DOJ’s actions could disrupt ties with India at a crucial geopolitical moment.
“This misguided crusade came at the risk of harming our relationship with a strategic geopolitical partner like India immediately preceding President Trump’s return to the Oval Office. Considering President Trump’s commitment to revive America’s economic prosperity, our economic relationship with valuable partners from India and abroad works as an important factor in achieving that goal.”
The letter demands an immediate review of the DOJ’s decisions, signaling growing political resistance to legal actions that could jeopardize US-India economic and diplomatic relations.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
