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Adani Group Clears Executives of Bribery Charges in US DOJ Case

  • 27 Nov 2024 05:55 AM
  • AdaniGroup, BriberyCharges, USDOJ, FCPA, GautamAdani

The Adani Group has responded strongly to recent media reports alleging bribery and corruption charges against its top executives, including Chairman Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and senior executive Vneet Jaain. According to the group's statement, neither Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, nor Vneet Jaain have been charged with any violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), as claimed in recent news articles.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment contains five counts, but only a few individuals are named in the bribery-related charges, and none of the Adani executives are mentioned. The indictment focuses on a conspiracy to violate the FCPA and conspiracy to obstruct justice, but the Adani executives are not implicated in these counts. The media's interpretation of the charges is described by Adani as a “flawed understanding” of the legal documents, leading to “incorrect and reckless reporting.”

While the DOJ indictment includes claims that bribes were discussed or promised, it does not provide evidence that any bribes were paid to Indian officials. Adani Group has also criticized the basis of the charges as hearsay from former employees of Azure Power and CDPQ (Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec).

The controversy surrounding the US DOJ action has had significant consequences for the Adani Group, with a loss of nearly $55 billion in market capitalization across its 11 listed firms since the indictment was announced. The group's global operations, particularly in Africa, Sri Lanka, Israel, Australia, and Bangladesh, have faced increasing scrutiny, and several international projects have been canceled due to the fallout.

Adani has also pointed to its competition with US and Chinese companies in the global market, noting that such charges may be strategically motivated, as the group competes with these entities in key sectors like energy and logistics.

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