A U.S. judge on Friday ordered the Department of Justice to set out its reasoning for deciding to drop criminal charges previously filed against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. The judge declined to immediately grant a motion from Adani's legal team asking for a formal dismissal of the case.
The indictment, brought in 2024, accused Adani of agreeing to bribe Indian government officials to obtain approval for a solar plant development advanced by a subsidiary of the Adani Group. Prosecutors also alleged that Adani provided statements intended to reassure U.S. investors about the company nd its anti-corruption practices, claims the charges say were misleading.
The Adani Group has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with the allegations.
Last month the Justice Department announced it would no longer pursue the prosecution. Following that announcement, on Wednesday, attorneys for Adani asked U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, who sits in Brooklyn, to formally dismiss the case.
Instead of immediately granting the dismissal, the judge required the Justice Department to explain its decision to discontinue the prosecution. The order compels the department to file a justification for abandoning the charges before the court will consider accepting the formal dismissal requested by Adani efense counsel.
The proceedings leave the case in a procedural pause: while the Justice Department has said it will not pursue the charges, the court has not yet entered an order formally dismissing the indictment. The judge ecision signals that the court will review the departmentxplanation before concluding the matter officially.
Context and next steps
- The Justice Department must file an explanation for dropping the prosecution as ordered by the judge.
- Adani ttorneys have formally requested that the case be dismissed following the department nnouncement.
- The court has not yet approved the formal dismissal and has asked for further justification from prosecutors.
The current record reflects the charges brought in 2024, the department nnouncement that it would cease prosecution last month, the motion by Adani ounsel on Wednesday to dismiss the case, and the judgeriday order requiring a departmental explanation before the court considers formal dismissal.