Indian billionaire denies U.S. investment pledge influenced DOJ to seek case dismissal

Indian business magnate Gautam Adani said his pledge to invest billions of dollars in the U.S. did not influence the Justice Department’s decision to move to drop the criminal case against him.

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In a sworn statement filed Wednesday, Adani denied seeking a quid pro quo with the Trump administration to avoid prosecution, after a federal judge ordered the billionaire to explain whether any deal was made in connection with the government’s significant reversal.

“To my knowledge, the Adani Group’s interest in investing in the United States had no role in the DOJ’s decision to seek the dismissal of the indictment ,” Adani said. “I am not aware of any agreement involving any person or entity exchanging anything for the dismissal of the indictment.”

Adani was indicted in 2024 by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn over his alleged role in a sweeping fraud and bribery scheme. He was accused of defrauding U.S. investors and paying off Indian government officials to win a bid to develop the country’s largest solar power plant.

The contracts were projected to generate $2 billion in profits over 20 years.

Adani, who was never arrested in connection with the charges or brought to the U.S. to face trial, has called the accusations baseless.

The Justice Department in May sought to drop the case, saying that it did not wish to devote further resources to it.

Adani’s attorney, Robert J. Giuffra Jr., also filed a declaration on Wednesday, saying the decision by prosecutors came after months of extensive communications and meetings with the Justice Department, which included legal and factual analyses and written submissions from experts.

Giuffra said that on two occasions, during discussions with government officials, “we stated that as part of any resolution of these matters on the merits, the Adani Group would be amenable to following through on a public statement by Gautam Adani regarding the Group’s willingness to invest $10 billion in the United States as a means of promoting the U.S.-India trade relationship.”

However, the Justice Department declined to consider Adani’s willingness to invest as a part of any resolution in the case, said Giuffra, who cited an email from prosecutors.

U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis requested the information last week, as he weighs whether to sign off on the request.

The court papers to drop the case were signed by Trent McCotter, the principal associate attorney general, as well as Joseph Nocella, the U.S. attorney for Brooklyn. They did not include signatures from line prosecutors assigned to the case, which would be customary.

The government’s move drew scrutiny not only from Garaufis, but also Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, and Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, who asked acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a letter about the “reportedly ‘transactional nature’” of the decision.

The Justice Department has defended the decision to forgo its case against Adani, with McCotter saying the case was “so indefensible.”

“I would have sought dismissal of the securities charges regardless of any mentions of investments, regardless of whether the civil case (or any other matter) was settled or otherwise resolved,” McCotter said in a separate filing in early July.