Rahul Gandhi Attacks PM Modi After US Court Dismisses Adani Case

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a US federal court permanently dismissed several criminal charges against Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and former Adani Green Energy CEO Vneet Jaain. Gandhi said the development suggested that there was "much more to this than meets the eye" and accused the Prime Minister of compromising India's interests. He said India was "paying a huge price" following the development.

The remarks came after US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York approved the Justice Department's request to permanently dismiss three charges against the Adani executives. The charges involved securities-fraud conspiracy, wire-fraud conspiracy and securities fraud. The dismissals were made with prejudice, meaning the same charges cannot be brought again. However, the court did not make a determination on whether the underlying allegations were true or false.

In a 47-page order issued on August 10, Judge Garaufis approved the Justice Department's request under Rule 48(a). The judge also reserved judgment on two other counts involving alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Those counts involve five India-based defendants who have not appeared before the US court. The Justice Department has until August 31 to meet requirements set by the court, while lawyers for the non-appearing defendants have also been asked to confirm their clients' consent.

Also Read: Kewal Dhillon Questions Rahul Gandhi’s Absence From Jharkhand Student Protest

The judge specifically cautioned that the dismissal should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the government's decision or as a ruling on the merits of the allegations. No trial was held in the case, meaning witnesses were not examined and the evidence was not tested before a jury or judge. The Adani Group has consistently denied the allegations and maintained that it complied with all applicable laws.

The US Justice Department had sought dismissal of the charges in May after reviewing the case. It cited jurisdictional and evidentiary difficulties, the fact that much of the alleged conduct occurred in India, scrutiny by Indian authorities and the absence of identified investor losses. The department also argued that continuing the prosecution no longer aligned with its priorities and said the case had limited prospects of reaching trial. Gautam Adani welcomed the court's decision, saying he accepted the outcome with humility and respect for the judicial process.

Gandhi's latest criticism adds to his longstanding political attacks on the Adani Group and the Modi government. His comments came shortly after the US court ruling removed a major legal overhang that had affected the conglomerate for nearly two years. While the court's decision permanently ended several charges, it did not amount to a judicial finding that the allegations were unfounded, leaving the political debate in India over the case likely to continue.

Also Read: Top Leaders From Rival Parties Attend Supriya Sule's Daughter's Wedding Reception