National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday urged the government of India to take the allegations against the Adani group seriously and conduct a thorough investigation.
Speaking to reporters, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister admitted he was not fully informed about the allegations but noted that similar accusations of wrongdoing had surfaced earlier.
“If such activities have occurred, they must be investigated,” he said.
Addressing demands for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe, Abdullah expressed hope that the government would act responsibly and investigate the matter comprehensively.
The controversy involves allegations by US prosecutors, accusing billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani of being part of a scheme to pay over $250 million (approximately Rs 2,100 crore) in bribes to Indian officials for favorable solar power contracts. The prosecutors claim the Adani group concealed this from US banks and investors, from whom they raised substantial funds for the project. Under US law, foreign corruption allegations can be pursued if they have connections to American investors or markets. The Adani group has denied all charges.
Commenting on his party MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s demand for a review of reservation policies, Abdullah supported the move, stating that it was commendable for parliamentarians to address public concerns. He added, “The government must focus on addressing people’s issues. The era of lawlessness is over, and we are accountable to those who elected us.”
US prosecutors have charged Gautam Adani, an Indian billionaire business magnate and the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, and two other executives with orchestrating a $250 million bribery scheme to secure solar energy contracts in India, threatening to disrupt the Indian tycoon’s conglomerate after recovering from previous fraud allegations.
The charges, filed Wednesday, allege that Adani, his nephew Sagar R Adani, and executive Vneet S Jaain bribed Indian officials while seeking funds from US investors. Prosecutors accused them of violating federal laws and attempting to obstruct justice by deleting evidence, as reported by Bloomberg.
The SEC has also filed a parallel civil lawsuit, naming Adani Green Energy Ltd as a key player in the bribery scheme to build India’s largest solar power project.
The Adani Group, under scrutiny by Indian regulators for earlier allegations, has denied wrongdoing. The scandal led to the cancellation of a $600 million bond offering and a plunge in the group’s US-currency bonds.
India’s opposition has called for a parliamentary probe, while the ongoing investigations may take years to resolve.
