Judge dismisses fraud charges against Gautam Adani, criticizes DOJ process

A U.S. federal judge on Monday dismissed criminal fraud and bribery charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, formally ending a high-profile prosecution that had threatened the expansion of his global conglomerate. However, the judge sharply criticized the Justice Department's decision-making process and refused to dismiss charges against five codefendants without further justification.

U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn granted the government's motion to dismiss the case against Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be revived. The dismissal came after the Justice Department, under the Trump administration, moved in May to abandon the case it had filed in late 2024 during the final days of the Biden administration. The indictment had alleged Adani was part of a scheme to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure solar energy contracts, and then misled U.S. investors about his company's anti-corruption practices. Adani and his Adani Group have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In a scathing 47-page ruling, Judge Garaufis expressed significant concern over the rationale and process...