New Delhi: A US federal judge has permanently dismissed three criminal counts against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, a decision that drew a sharp reaction from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused the Prime Minister of having compromised the country’s interests.
Gandhi accuses government of selling out India
Posting on X, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha shared a screenshot of media coverage of the US court order and wrote that "there is much more to this than meets the eye," adding in the post that "a compromised PM was forced to sell India's interest. India is paying a huge price."
"There is much more to this than meets the eye. A compromised PM was forced to sell India's interest. India is paying a huge price."
The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, presided over by Judge Nicholas Garaufis, approved the US Department of Justice's Rule 48(a) motion to dismiss Counts Two, Three and Four of the indictment against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and former Adani Green Energy CEO Vneet Jaain. The dismissed counts related to alleged securities‑fraud conspiracy, wire‑fraud conspiracy and securities fraud, and the court ordered the dismissals with prejudice, meaning those specific charges cannot be refiled.
Pending counts and procedural next steps
Judge Garaufis reserved judgment on two remaining counts: Count One, which involves alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and Count Five, which alleges conspiracy to obstruct justice. Those counts concern five India‑based individuals named in the indictment: Ranjit Gupta, Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal, Deepak Malhotra and Rupesh Agarwal.
The Justice Department has been given a period to satisfy conditions set by the court, with a deadline noted as 31 August. Counsel for the non‑appearing, India‑based defendants were required to take procedural steps in response to the order.
Adani's response and the political impact
Gautam Adani welcomed the court's action, expressing acceptance of the decision "with humility" and "deep respect" for the judicial process, according to the reporting. The development removes a significant legal overhang that had shadowed the conglomerate for nearly two years.
In India, the ruling immediately became a subject of political debate. Mr Gandhi’s post framed the outcome as a matter of national consequence and directly criticised the Prime Minister. The allegation ties the judicial development overseas to domestic governance and accountability.
Opposition leaders often cite corporate‑government links when raising concerns about transparency and national interest; the court order has therefore intensified scrutiny in political circles. Government spokespeople and ministers have not been quoted in the material provided; further official responses may follow as parties digest the ruling.
Quick facts
- Counts dismissed with prejudice: Counts Two, Three and Four (securities‑fraud conspiracy, wire‑fraud conspiracy, securities fraud).
- Counts under reservation: Count One (FCPA violations) and Count Five (conspiracy to obstruct justice), involving five India‑based co‑defendants.
- Court: Eastern District of New York, Judge Nicholas Garaufis.
- DOJ deadline: 31 August to satisfy court requirements.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Counts Two to Four | Dismissed with prejudice |
| Counts One and Five | Judgment reserved (involves five India‑based defendants) |
Legal observers noted that the Rule 48(a) dismissal is an instrument the Department of Justice can use to withdraw charges, but reservation on other counts leaves open additional legal questions. Politically, the decision has already been seized upon by opposition leaders as evidence of deeper concerns about accountability and the relationship between political power and business interests.
Further reporting is required to trace how the reserved counts will be resolved, whether the Justice Department will take additional steps, and how Indian political parties will press their respective narratives in Parliament and public fora.
