Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has renewed his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a US court’s decision to dismiss key criminal charges against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani. Reacting to the development on Wednesday, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha questioned the circumstances surrounding the case and suggested that the court’s decision could have wider political implications for India.
Sharing a media report about the US Justice Department’s move to drop the charges, Gandhi wrote on X:
“There is much more to this than meets the eye.” He then directly targeted the Prime Minister, alleging: “A compromised PM was forced to sell India’s interest. India is paying a huge price.”
Gandhi’s remarks come after US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York approved the Justice Department’s request to dismiss several charges against the Adani executives.
The case had been hanging over the Adani Group since the criminal indictment was unsealed in 2024. Prosecutors had accused Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others in connection with an alleged bribery and securities-fraud scheme.
Judge Garaufis’ latest ruling permanently dismissed three counts involving securities-fraud conspiracy, wire-fraud conspiracy and securities fraud. The dismissal was made with prejudice, preventing those particular charges from being brought again.
The court’s decision, however, did not amount to a judicial finding that the original allegations were false.
Garaufis specifically cautioned that the ruling should not be interpreted as the court endorsing the government's decision to abandon the prosecution or as a judgment on the underlying allegations.
The US Justice Department had earlier asked the court to terminate the criminal proceedings after reviewing the case. Prosecutors cited legal and jurisdictional difficulties, the predominantly India-based nature of the alleged conduct and other evidentiary considerations.
The department also argued that continuing the prosecution no longer fitted its enforcement priorities.
The decision followed a period of scrutiny from Judge Garaufis, who had previously sought a fuller explanation from prosecutors for their decision to abandon the high-profile case.
Adani Welcomes Decision
Gautam Adani welcomed the dismissal, saying he accepted the outcome with “humility” and “deep respect” for the judicial process.
The Adani Group has consistently denied wrongdoing in connection with the allegations.
The court proceedings did not result in a trial in which witnesses were examined or the evidence underlying the criminal allegations was tested before a jury.
The US court ruling has nevertheless provided fresh ammunition for the political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP.
Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly raised allegations concerning the relationship between the Modi government and the Adani Group, while the government and the BJP have rejected his accusations.
His latest comments place the US legal development back at the centre of that political battle, with Gandhi linking the dismissal of the case to what he described as the broader interests of India.
For now, the US ruling brings a significant chapter of the criminal case against the Adani executives to a close, while the political controversy surrounding the matter in India is far from over.
