Judge Questions DOJ Over Dismissal of Gautam Adani Charges

A U.S. District Judge is reviewing whether an undisclosed agreement influenced the Justice Department's decision to dismiss a criminal indictment against Gautam Adani and seven others. The original 2024 indictment accused the defendants of paying $250 million in bribes to Indian officials for solar power contracts and misleading U.S. investors. The Justice Department later moved to dismiss the case with prejudice, labeling the original charges a "name-and-shame" action by the previous administration and arguing the case was legally indefensible due to a lack of investor losses.

Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered Adani to file a sworn affidavit on July 15, which Adani used to deny any quid pro quo regarding a proposal to invest $10 billion in the United States. The court is now examining contradictions within the government's own narrative. Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter claimed he was the "final and sole decision maker" in the dismissal. However, Judge Garaufis noted a May 11 email from U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. that indicated Nocella's involvement in determining grounds for resolution.

In response, Judge Garaufis ordered Nocella to submit a sworn statement by July 17 to clarify his role. While Nocella categorically rejected the $10 billion investment proposal as a means to resolve the criminal charges, the court continues to investigate if such mentions played any role in the decision to drop the bribery and securities fraud case.