On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, stated that the Adani Group’s denial of charges made by a US court involving industrialist Gautam Adani was expected. He also called for Adani’s arrest in connection with these allegations.
This came after the Adani Group Energy Limited (AGEL) refuted bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against the Group’s founder and Chairman Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and MD CEO of Adani Green Energy Vineet Jaain, in a filing with the stock exchanges earlier today.
“You think Adani is going to accept the charges? Obviously, he is going to deny the charges. The point is that he has to be arrested, as we have said,” he said.
Gandhi stated that people were being arrested for minor charges, noting that “the gentleman” was indicted in the US for thousands of crores. He further accused the Union Government of protecting Adani.
“Hundreds of people are being arrested on tiny charges, and the gentleman (Gautam Adani) has been indicted in the United States for thousands of crores. He should be in jail, and the government is protecting him,” he said.
Earlier today, in its exchange filing, AGEL had cited the news reporting on the alleged bribery and corruption charges against Adani officials as ‘incorrect.’
“Media articles which state that certain of our directors namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet aain have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment. Such statements are incorrect,” said the statement by Adani Green Energy Ltd.
“Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DOJ or civil complaint of the US SEC,” it added.