US Justice Department seeks dismissal of Adani case

The U.S. Department of Justice has urged a federal judge to permanently dismiss a high-profile criminal case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and seven other defendants, arguing the prosecution was legally flawed, diplomatically counterproductive, and no longer aligns with current enforcement priorities. The request, filed in a New York federal court on July 3, 2026, represents a sharp reversal from the indictment originally brought under the Biden administration in 2024.

The department’s 10-page filing came after U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis asked prosecutors to explain their earlier, brief motion to dismiss the case. In the detailed response, Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter stated the decision to seek dismissal with prejudice, which would bar refiling the same charges, was not a close call after months of review.

The Justice Department outlined six primary reasons for dropping all charges, which included bribery and securities fraud allegations. It argued the alleged conduct was overwhelmingly centered in India, where authorities had already investigated and found no actionable misconduct. The filing noted that key evidence and...