Fresh Turbulence for Gautam Adani: US Justice Department Probes Alleged Iran Sanctions Breach

New Delhi: Indian business tycoon Gautam Adani is once again under scrutiny, this time from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which is reportedly investigating possible violations of American sanctions against Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published Monday.

The investigation reportedly centers around whether any of the Adani Group’s subsidiaries were involved in business transactions linked to Iran, potentially in breach of U.S. laws. The report adds a fresh layer of controversy for the Adani conglomerate, which has faced mounting regulatory attention in recent years.

Citing shipping data, the WSJ investigation revealed that tankers traveling between the Adani-owned Mundra Port in Gujarat and the Persian Gulf showed “traits experts say are common for ships evading sanctions.” These red flags include turning off transponders and altering routes mid-sea — tactics frequently used by vessels transporting sanctioned cargo.

In response to the WSJ, an Adani Group spokesperson firmly denied any wrongdoing: “Adani categorically denies any deliberate engagement in sanctions evasion or trade involving Iranian-origin LPG. Further, we are not aware of any investigation by US authorities on this subject.”

As of now, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, and Gautam Adani himself have not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.

This latest scrutiny comes just months after U.S. authorities indicted Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, alleging they had paid bribes to win power supply contracts and misled American investors during fund-raising efforts in the U.S.

Adding to the backdrop, during his presidency, Donald Trump had declared a complete halt on all imports of Iranian oil and petrochemical products, warning that violators would face “immediate secondary sanctions.”