New Delhi/New York, August 11, 2026: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani has welcomed a US federal court’s decision to dismiss criminal charges against him and his nephew, Sagar Adani, saying he has “deep respect for the judicial process” and that his faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering throughout the case.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Gautam Adani said, “I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process. Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering.”
“My deepest gratitude to those who never lost faith in us, in the system and in India’s capacity for justice,” he added. “We will continue doing what matters: building for our nation, creating value that outlasts us and serving a purpose larger than ourselves. That is our commitment. Jai Hind.”
US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York on Monday granted the US Department of Justice’s request to dismiss the criminal charges against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and the other defendants who had appeared in the case. The dismissal was granted with prejudice, meaning the criminal charges based on the conduct alleged in the indictment cannot be brought again.
The decision brings an end to a high-profile criminal case that began with an indictment in November 2024. US prosecutors had accused Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others of allegedly participating in a scheme involving bribes to Indian government officials in connection with solar power contracts in India. Prosecutors had also alleged that investors in the United States were misled in connection with the alleged scheme.
The defendants denied the allegations.
DOJ argued case should never have been brought
The dismissal followed a significant reversal by the US Department of Justice, which in May sought to terminate the prosecution after reviewing the case and determining that it would no longer devote resources to the criminal charges.
The department subsequently provided a detailed explanation to the court after Judge Garaufis sought further justification for the government’s request.
In a filing submitted on July 4, the DOJ said the criminal case “should never have been brought” and urged the court to permanently dismiss the charges. The department argued that the allegations were overwhelmingly connected to India and that the prosecution raised significant questions about the appropriate limits of US jurisdiction.
The DOJ pointed out that the alleged conduct involved Indian individuals, Indian government officials, Indian contracts and the provision of electricity in India. It argued that pursuing such a case from the United States could create diplomatic tensions while consuming federal resources that could be directed toward domestic priorities.
The department also maintained that the securities-fraud allegations against Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani lacked a sufficient legal foundation under US securities laws, arguing that the alleged conduct occurred almost entirely outside the United States and presented substantial jurisdictional obstacles.
The DOJ also rejected reports that its decision to seek dismissal was influenced by potential investment commitments by the Adani Group in the United States. Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter said the department would have sought dismissal of the securities charges regardless of any references to potential investments.
Judge Garaufis, while approving the dismissal, examined the government’s reasons and said he was satisfied that the reported investment pledge by the Adani Group did not influence the Justice Department’s decision. He also acknowledged the limited role courts play in reviewing federal prosecutors’ decisions to seek dismissal of criminal charges.
Legal experts call dismissal significant
US-based lawyer Jim Walden described the court’s decision as a normal consequence of the separation of powers and the limits of American legal authority.
“The court was obligated to comply with the request. I don’t think it was extraordinary at all; it was par for the course,” Walden told ANI.
Walden said the prosecution had reached the “outer fringes” of US efforts to regulate conduct occurring abroad. He argued that a democratic government must recognize the limits of its legal authority outside its borders.
“I just want to emphasise that we are a country of laws,” Walden said, adding that the DOJ’s application was appropriate and that the court was required to respect the separation of powers.
He also said changes in prosecutorial priorities between presidential administrations are a normal feature of a functioning democracy.
“I think it stands for the proposition that the federal government should limit its power,” Walden said, noting that different administrations may have different views about the appropriate role of federal prosecutors.
Another US-based lawyer, Benjamin A. Gianforti, said the dismissal with prejudice was particularly significant because it permanently closes the criminal case on the facts alleged.
“I think it is very significant that the judge dismissed the charges against Adani and the other so-called appearing defendants,” Gianforti told ANI. He explained that under the US legal system, dismissal with prejudice means the same charges based on the alleged conduct cannot be brought again.
Gianforti also said the episode could have broader implications for the Justice Department, suggesting that federal prosecutors may need to provide stronger and more carefully developed reasons when seeking dismissal of major cases.
He described the DOJ’s handling of the dismissal request as problematic, saying prosecutors had repeatedly encountered difficulties in explaining their position to the court.
Case now closed, Indian lawyer says
Raian Karanjawala, Managing Partner of Karanjawala & Company, also described the ruling as conclusive.
He said the Justice Department had essentially informed the court that it was no longer interested in prosecuting the case, and the court had now accepted that position.
“The case now stands closed. It stands dismissed, and because it is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot again be revived in any form on these facts,” Karanjawala said.
He added that the immediate legal consequence is that there is no longer a criminal case pending against Gautam Adani in the United States arising from the allegations in the indictment.
Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa described the order as “highly significant” for the Adani Group, particularly because the 2024 indictment had generated considerable negative publicity.
The dismissal therefore provides substantial legal relief to the group and removes the criminal prosecution that had remained a significant issue surrounding Gautam Adani and the Adani Group.
Criminal case separate from SEC proceedings
The dismissal of the criminal charges is separate from civil proceedings involving Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani before the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
In that separate matter, the two had previously agreed to pay civil penalties without admitting the allegations.
The federal court’s dismissal of the criminal case nevertheless marks the conclusion of the high-profile prosecution initiated in 2024.
For the Adani Group, the ruling closes a major legal chapter in the United States. For Gautam Adani, the decision represents a significant legal development that he has publicly welcomed while reiterating his confidence in the rule of law and his commitment to continuing to build and invest in India.
“That is our commitment. Jai Hind,” Adani said.
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