Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reacted to the bribery claims against Indian tycoon Gautam Adani, stating that the issue was never raised when he met US President Donald Trump.
When queried on the bribery case going on with Adani and whether the subject was mentioned in his conversation with President Trump, PM Modi replied categorically, “Two important leaders of two nations never speak about individual subjects.” He added further, “India is a democracy, and our culture is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ we think the entire world is like a family. I think all Indians are mine.”
Bribery Allegations and US Charges
The US Department of Justice recently indicted Gautam Adani for allegedly participating in a plot to pay more than USD 250 million (around ₹2,100 crore) as bribes to Indian authorities. This was done, it is said, to obtain favorable conditions for solar power deals. The indictment alleges that the payments were concealed from US banks and investors, to whom the Adani Group had raised billions for the project.
These accusations have also highlighted the activities of the Adani Group, and they have attracted legal inquiry by US officials.
Trump’s Executive Order on Investigations
A few days after the bribery claims were made public and Donald Trump became the 47th US President, an important executive order was signed. The order instructed the Department of Justice to suspend enforcement of a close to 50-year-old law utilized in investigating businesses such as Adani Group.
Trump’s executive order requested the Attorney General to consider the guidelines and policies governing such investigations within 180 days, during which no new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement actions were to be taken unless there was an individual exception.
Gautam Adani Replies to Allegations
When there were allegations of bribery and fraud, Gautam Adani refuted the accusations, saying, “As all of you would have read, a fortnight ago, we encountered a set of allegations in the US regarding compliance practices in Adani Green Energy. It is not the first time that we encountered such issues.”. What I can say is that each attack only makes us stronger, and each challenge becomes a stepping stone to an even stronger Adani Group.
Adani’s assertion speaks to the group’s strength amid legal issues, with the company asserting that they will keep pushing through the allegations just as they have always done. The Adani Group does not let the accusations deter them from their dedication to transparency and development.