DOJ Flags ‘Catastrophic Flaws’ In Internal Handling Of Adani Prosecution
DOJ criticises internal handling of Adani prosecution citing major flaws.
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has criticised its own handling of a securities-related prosecution involving the Adani Group in a recently unsealed court filing. The document describes significant internal concerns, including alleged “unethical leaks” and what it called “numerous catastrophic flaws” in the way the case was managed. The filing has drawn attention for its unusually critical assessment of prosecutorial conduct within the department.
According to the filing, a DOJ attorney allegedly leaked information to the media regarding plans to dismiss the securities charges, which the department described as an unethical breach of procedure. The DOJ stated that such leaks contributed to public debate around the case being shaped outside the courtroom, warning that prosecutorial decisions should not be influenced or contested through media narratives. It further noted that internal disclosures exposed deeper weaknesses in the case.
The department characterised the underlying indictment as deeply problematic, describing it as a “name-and-shame” style filing that lacked strong prospects of succeeding at trial. It also noted that the case had been unsealed during the final days of the previous administration, creating what it referred to as a “potential quagmire” for incoming officials. Prosecutors involved in the matter reportedly acknowledged “extraordinary proof problems” that would have made courtroom success difficult.
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In its assessment, the DOJ said the decision to dismiss the charges was “not a close call,” adding that the case should either not have been filed or should have been dropped earlier. The filing also highlighted that, based on its review, not a single dollar of investor funds had been lost. It further stated that investigations conducted in India had not identified any actionable misconduct related to the allegations.
The DOJ also rejected suggestions that the dismissal was influenced by external factors such as investment discussions or media pressure, calling such claims “false.” It maintained that the decision would have remained unchanged regardless of unrelated developments. Concluding its filing, the department said the matter was more suitable for civil resolution and emphasised that the case was ultimately “unworthy of further resources,” given the legal and evidentiary challenges it identified.
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