National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday called for a detailed investigation by the Central government into allegations of bribery involving Gautam Adani and others, following charges filed by US prosecutors.
“JPC has been demanded, and I hope that the Centre will take this seriously and conduct a thorough investigation in the matter. He has been accused earlier also,” Abdullah said.
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism, urging Adani’s arrest. Gandhi alleged that the businessman had violated both American and Indian laws and suggested a deeper nexus between the Adani Group and the ruling BJP.
“Wherever there is corruption, investigation should be done. But investigation will begin with Adani. Unless he is arrested, it won’t be credible. So, begin it from there. Arrest Adani, interrogate him, and then nab whoever is involved. In the end, Narendra Modi’s name will come out because BJP’s entire funding structure is in his hands. So, even if the PM wants, he can’t do anything. In a way, Adani has hijacked the country. India is in Adani’s grip,” Gandhi said.
Adani Group denies allegations
In response, the Adani Group strongly refuted the accusations, calling the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) baseless.
“As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, ‘the charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.’ All possible legal recourse will be sought,” a spokesperson said in an official statement.
The group also confirmed that subsidiaries of Adani Green Energy have deferred their proposed US dollar-denominated bond offerings in light of the developments.
US allegations and legal proceedings
The charges stem from an alleged solar energy contract bribery scheme. A five-count criminal indictment was unsealed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, implicating Gautam Adani and other Indian executives.