Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a US federal court permanently dismissed several criminal charges against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani.
Reacting to the development, Gandhi questioned the circumstances surrounding the case and alleged that the decision could have wider implications for India. He claimed that there was “much more to this than meets the eye” and accused the Prime Minister of compromising India’s interests.
“India is paying a huge price,” Gandhi said in a post on X while sharing a report about the US court’s decision.
US Court Dismisses Three Criminal Charges Against Adani
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 Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and former Adani Green Energy CEO Vneet Jaain.
The charges that were dismissed involved alleged securities-fraud conspiracy, wire-fraud conspiracy and securities fraud.
The court dismissed the charges with prejudice, meaning they cannot be brought again in their current form.
However, the ruling did not amount to a finding that the allegations were false or that the accused had been cleared on the merits.
Judge Warns Dismissal Is Not A Verdict On Allegations
In his order, Judge Garaufis made it clear that the decision should not be interpreted as the court endorsing the government’s reasoning or ruling on whether the allegations had merit.
“No one should mistake” the order for the court’s agreement with the government’s decision or an opinion on the merits of the allegations, the judge said.
The case never reached trial, meaning witnesses were not examined and the evidence was not tested before a jury.
Two other counts remain pending. These relate to alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and an alleged conspiracy to obstruct justice. The charges involve five India-based defendants who have not appeared before the US court.
The US Justice Department has been given until August 31 to complete requirements linked to the proceedings.
Why Did The US Government Seek Dismissal?
The Justice Department had sought the dismissal in May following a review of the prosecution.
It cited several difficulties, including jurisdictional and evidentiary concerns, the fact that much of the alleged conduct took place in India, scrutiny of the matter by Indian authorities and the absence of identified investor losses.
The department also argued that continuing the prosecution no longer matched its priorities and suggested that the case had limited prospects of eventually going to trial.
The Adani Group has consistently denied the allegations and maintained that it complied with applicable laws.
Rahul Gandhi Steps Up Attack On Modi Government
Gandhi has repeatedly raised allegations concerning the Adani Group and has questioned the Modi government’s relationship with the conglomerate.
Following the latest US court decision, Gandhi again targeted the Prime Minister, claiming that the development raised questions that needed answers.
He said there was “much more to this than meets the eye” and alleged that a “compromised PM” had been forced to “sell India’s interest”.
The remarks are likely to add another flashpoint to the ongoing political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP, with the Adani issue continuing to remain a major point of contention.
Gautam Adani Welcomes Court Decision
Gautam Adani welcomed the court’s decision and said he accepted the development with “humility” and “deep respect” for the judicial process.
The ruling marks a significant development in a case that had remained under intense political and legal scrutiny for nearly two years. However, the court’s order itself does not constitute a judgment on the underlying allegations.
