US Judge Refuses To Immediately Dismiss Adani Indictment, Seeks Detailed Explanation From DOJ

A US federal judge has declined to immediately dismiss the criminal indictment against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and other accused persons, directing the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide a fuller explanation for its decision to abandon the prosecution, reported the Reuters.

In an order passed last week, Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York held that the DOJ's request to dismiss the case was inadequately reasoned, preventing the court from meaningfully exercising its discretion under the applicable procedural rules. 

"The Government's terse, bland and conclusory statement affords the court neither a sufficient basis to reach any conclusion, nor the opportunity to conduct any analysis of the Government's request for dismissal," the judge observed.  

The court has directed federal prosecutors to file a more detailed submission by July 13, setting out the factual and legal grounds for seeking dismissal and explaining why ending the prosecution would serve the public interest. Until then, the indictment will remain pending. 

The DOJ had informed the court in May that it had decided, in its prosecutorial discretion, not to devote further resources to the criminal case. The department, however, offered only a brief explanation for its decision, prompting judicial scrutiny. 

The indictment, filed in 2024, accused Adani and other defendants of securities fraud and wire fraud arising out of an alleged scheme to pay bribes to Indian government officials to secure approvals for a solar energy project while misleading US investors regarding the company's anti-corruption practices.  

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