Adani Group corruption and bribery allegations
Gautam Adani denied any knowledge of a 'quid pro quo' agreement on July 15, 2026, in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice's decision to dismiss a bribery indictment against him, following a federal judge's order for sworn responses. As of July 15, 2026, the DOJ has formally requested a federal court to dismiss all charges in the alleged $250 million bribery scheme, citing a flawed prosecution and arguing the case should never have been brought. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered Adani to provide sworn written responses by July 15, 2026, to ascertain if any agreements were made in exchange for dropping the indictment. The DOJ defended its decision on July 4, 2026, citing six reasons, including the case being primarily a foreign matter with no U.S. victims, after a U.S. judge on June 28, 2026, ordered the DOJ to justify its decision to drop the charges.
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July 2026 — 3 developments
Gautam Adani Denies Quid Pro Quo in DOJ Bribery Case Dismissal
Gautam Adani has denied any knowledge of a 'quid pro quo' agreement in connection with the Department of Justice's decision to dismiss the bribery indictment against him. The DOJ has formally requested a federal court to dismiss all charges in the alleged $250 million bribery scheme, citing a flawed prosecution. Adani's response was submitted on July 15, 2026, the same date a federal judge ordered him to provide sworn written responses.
Judge Orders Gautam Adani to Respond on DOJ Case Dismissal Deals
U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis has ordered Gautam Adani to provide sworn written responses by July 15, 2026, regarding any promises or deals associated with the Justice Department's dismissal of the criminal case against him. The judge is seeking to ascertain if any agreements were made in exchange for dropping the indictment.
US DOJ Defends Dropping Gautam Adani Charges, Citing Legal Flaws and Foreign Jurisdiction
The U.S. Department of Justice defended its decision to drop criminal charges against Gautam Adani and seven others, citing legal flaws and arguing the case should never have been brought. In a 10-page filing on July 4, 2026, the DOJ cited six reasons, including the case being primarily a foreign matter with no U.S. victims who suffered losses.
June 2026 — 5 developments
US Judge Orders Justice Dept. to Justify Dropping Charges Against Gautam Adani
A U.S. judge has ordered the Justice Department to justify its decision to drop bribery and fraud indictment charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. The judge stated the government failed to provide adequate reasoning and sufficient facts to support the dismissal. A detailed explanation is required by July 13.
DOJ to drop Adani charges after $10B investment offer; Adani Group settles sanctions case for $275M
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on May 15, 2026, its intention to drop fraud and bribery charges against Gautam Adani, following his offer to invest $10 billion in the U.S. and create 15,000 jobs. Separately, the Adani Group has agreed to pay $275 million to settle allegations of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran.
US Senators Question DOJ's Decision to Drop Charges Against Gautam Adani
US senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have questioned the Justice Department's request to dismiss criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. They cited concerns about the 'transactional nature' of the department's actions and reports that Adani offered to invest billions in the United States if the charges were dropped.
DOJ seeks dismissal of criminal charges against Gautam Adani as SEC settles civil lawsuit
The U.S. Department of Justice has requested a federal court to permanently dismiss criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. This follows the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's finalization of a related civil lawsuit, which includes Gautam Adani paying a $6 million penalty and Sagar Adani paying $12 million. The DOJ cited prosecutorial discretion and a desire not to devote further resources to the case.
US DOJ moves to dismiss criminal charges against Gautam and Sagar Adani
The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to permanently dismiss criminal charges against Gautam and Sagar Adani in a securities and wire fraud case, stating the allegations could not be sustained. This dismissal "with prejudice" bars future prosecution and follows parallel resolutions with the SEC and OFAC. Adani Group stocks declined on June 1, 2026, amid fresh scrutiny.
May 2026 — 2 developments
US court dismisses criminal charges against Gautam Adani and nephew
A federal court in New York has dismissed criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, who were accused of a bribery scheme tied to Indian solar power contracts. The U.S. Department of Justice requested the dismissal, stating they would not "devote further resources" to the case. The allegations, filed in late 2024, claimed the Adanis orchestrated a $265 million bribery scheme to secure solar power contracts and concealed this from U.S. investors.
Adani Group settles SEC charges for $18 million; DOJ seeks dismissal of criminal case
Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani have agreed to pay $18 million to settle SEC allegations, without admitting or denying wrongdoing. The DOJ has also requested the dismissal of criminal charges against Gautam Adani, concluding it would not allocate further resources to prosecute. The settlement is pending court approval.
April 2026 — 1 developments
Adani and nephew seek dismissal of SEC fraud case, citing lack of jurisdiction
Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani are seeking to dismiss the SEC's civil fraud case, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction and sufficient evidence as alleged misconduct occurred in India. A US judge has granted their request for a pre-motion conference to hear these dismissal arguments.
March 2026 — 5 developments
Adani brothers accept SEC legal notices; DOJ expands bribery probe into Adani Group
Gautam and Sagar Adani have agreed to accept legal notices from the U.S. SEC in the civil fraud case, allowing them 90 days to respond. The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly expanding its investigation into potential bribery offenses by the Adani Group, examining whether improper payments were made to Indian officials.
SEC Seeks Alternative Service for Adani Brothers in Bribery Case
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking court permission to serve legal documents to Gautam and Sagar Adani in India via alternative methods, including their U.S.-based attorneys, due to diplomatic challenges. This action is part of the ongoing case involving an alleged multi-million dollar bribery scheme for solar energy contracts.
Adani Green Energy says US DOJ cleared Gautam Adani of direct bribery charges
Adani Green Energy Ltd. has stated that Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Vneet Jaain have been cleared of direct bribery charges by the U.S. Department of Justice. The company's filing indicated that the charges brought by the SEC and DOJ were related to securities fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, not direct bribery. This clarification follows an indictment unsealed in November 2024.
SEC alleges Adani Green Energy misrepresented anti-corruption efforts in $750M note offering
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleges Adani Green Energy misrepresented its anti-corruption efforts during a September 2021 note offering that raised $750 million, with $175 million from U.S. investors. These charges are part of a broader investigation into an alleged $250 million bribery scheme involving Gautam Adani and other senior executives aimed at securing solar energy projects.
Norway's Government Pension Fund Global Excludes Adani Green Energy Over Corruption Concerns
Norway's Government Pension Fund Global has excluded Adani Green Energy Ltd from its investment portfolio due to concerns over "gross corruption or other serious financial crime." This decision follows ongoing U.S. legal proceedings where Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani were indicted in November 2024 on charges including bribery and securities fraud.
January 2026 — 12 developments
DOJ's Adanis Criminal Indictment Inactive for Over 14 Months
A parallel criminal indictment by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the Adanis, filed concurrently with the SEC complaint in November 2024, has remained inactive for over 14 months. Legal observers suggest this stagnation is due to shifts in enforcement policy and geopolitical considerations.
Gautam Adani Hires Robert Giuffra Jr. for SEC Fraud Case
Gautam Adani has hired prominent US lawyer Robert Giuffra Jr. to represent him in the ongoing SEC fraud case.
Adani lawyers agree to accept legal papers in SEC fraud case
The procedural hurdle in the SEC's fraud case against Gautam and Sagar Adani has been resolved, as their lawyers agreed to accept the legal papers. A US Court has since ordered a schedule for the ongoing civil fraud case, and the Adanis will have 90 days to respond if the agreement is approved.
Gautam Adani seeks US court extension to respond to SEC summons
Gautam Adani has requested an extension until January 30 from the US court to respond to the Securities and Exchange Commission's summons. This request comes as talks continue between Adani and the SEC regarding the fraud and bribery allegations.
Former Power Secretary Questions Indian Government's Reluctance on Adani Probe
A former power secretary has publicly questioned the Indian government's reluctance to order a judicial probe into the Adani case, following the US SEC's efforts to serve summons. He highlighted that the SEC's investigation was initiated due to the Adani-Azure deal.
Adani Group entities clarify US SEC has not initiated legal proceedings against them
Adani Group entities clarified that the US SEC has not initiated legal proceedings against the companies themselves, reinforcing their earlier position that the civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal case.
India's Law Ministry refused to serve US SEC summons to Adani twice in 2025
India's Ministry of Law and Justice twice refused to formally serve US SEC summons to Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani in May and December 2025. The refusals were due to the absence of an ink signature, official seal, and a technical objection on the summons.
Adani Group distances itself from US SEC summons to Gautam and Sagar Adani
The Adani Group has officially distanced itself from the US SEC's efforts to serve summons to Gautam and Sagar Adani, stating that these developments do not impact its operations or disclosure obligations. The group clarified that the SEC's civil lawsuit is separate from a criminal case.
Gautam and Sagar Adani agree to accept service in U.S. securities case
Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani have agreed to accept service in a U.S. securities case, resolving a dispute over how they could be formally notified of the lawsuit. This agreement comes after India's Ministry of Law and Justice twice declined to assist the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in serving the complaints. The SEC's case alleges that the Adanis violated securities laws by misrepresenting the company's anti-corruption measures.
Gautam Adani's Lawyer Urges US Court to Defer Ruling on SEC Motion
Gautam Adani's lawyer made their first legal submission in a US court on January 23, responding to the SEC's bribery and securities fraud case. The submission urges the court to defer its ruling on the January 21 SEC motion.
US SEC seeks to serve Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani with summonses via email
Shares in Adani Group companies slumped, with a collective loss of $12.5 billion in market capitalization, following the U.S. SEC's request for court permission to serve legal summonses to Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani via email.
SEC Seeks Court Approval to Serve Gautam Adani Via Email Amid India's Non-Cooperation
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking court approval to serve legal summons to Gautam Adani via email, following India's continued non-cooperation with formal service requests.
August 2025 — 1 developments
U.S. SEC Informs Court Adani Summons Undelivered by Indian Authorities
The U.S. SEC informs a New York Eastern District court that, six months after seeking India's help, the summons and complaint for Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani remain undelivered by Indian authorities.
June 2025 — 1 developments
U.S. SEC updates court on efforts to serve Adani in India
The U.S. SEC files a status update with a federal court in New York, detailing its ongoing efforts to serve legal documents to Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani, noting that the defendants are located in India and efforts are continuing through Indian authorities.
February 2025 — 2 developments
U.S. SEC seeks India's help to serve summons to Gautam and Sagar Adani
The U.S. SEC formally requests assistance from India's Ministry of Law and Justice to serve summons to Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani in India under the Hague Service Convention.
President Trump signs executive order pausing FCPA enforcement for review
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order directing the Department of Justice to pause enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for a review period, a law central to the bribery investigation against the Adani Group. This move is seen as a potential relief for Adani.
November 2024 — 3 developments
Adani Group denies allegations, calls them 'baseless'
The Adani Group issues a statement denying the allegations, calling them 'baseless' and affirming its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of governance and compliance.
SEC files civil charges against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Cyril Cabanes for alleged bribery
Separately, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) files civil charges against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Cyril Cabanes, an executive of Azure Power Global, for conduct arising out of the alleged massive bribery scheme.
Gautam Adani and nephew Sagar Adani charged with securities and wire fraud in Brooklyn
A five-count criminal indictment is unsealed in Brooklyn federal court, charging Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and other executives with conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud, and substantive securities fraud. The indictment alleges a scheme to pay over $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure solar energy contracts.
July 2024 — 1 developments
Adani Enterprises to Pay $275 Million to Settle US Sanctions Investigation
Adani Enterprises has agreed to pay $275 million to the U.S. Treasury to settle a separate investigation into alleged violations of sanctions on Iran. This settlement is part of resolving three legal cases against the Adani Group in the U.S., alongside the DOJ's preparation to drop criminal charges against Gautam Adani and associates and the SEC's civil case settlement.
March 2024 — 1 developments
US widens Adani Group probe, scrutinizing Gautam Adani's conduct and bribery allegations
Reports emerge that the United States has widened its investigation into India's Adani Group, focusing on founder Gautam Adani's conduct and potential bribery by his companies for favorable treatment on an energy project.