The US Department of Justice announced it is dropping fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, ending a criminal case active since November 2024 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The DOJ had charged Adani and others with involvement in a $250 million bribery scheme to Indian officials aimed at securing solar energy contracts [1, 2, 5, 3, 4, 6].
Simultaneously, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil fraud case against Adani and others alleging false and misleading statements involving Adani Green Energy [1, 7, 8, 3, 4]. Adani and his nephew Sagar agreed to pay a combined $18 million civil penalty without admitting guilt to settle the SEC charges [7, 8, 5, 6]. Some sources say the breakdown is $6 million from Adani and $12 million from his nephew, while others report a combined figure with no separate amounts [7, 8, 5, 6].
Neither the Adani Group conglomerate nor its corporate units faced charges; only Gautam Adani and certain executives were defendants [7, 8, 5, 6]. The criminal case had stalled as defendants remained outside the US, and charges were dropped without any public court appearance by Adani or his relatives [1, 3].
The DOJ’s decision came after Adani assembled a legal team led by Robert J. Giuffra, known as former President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer [2, 4, 6]. In April, the legal team met with the DOJ and proposed a $10 billion US investment and the creation of 15,000 jobs if the charges were dropped [2, 4]. Sources differ on whether this proposal influenced the DOJ's favorable decision; some say it played a role, while prosecutors maintained it would not affect the outcome [2, 4].
Lisa Miller, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the DOJ in 2024, stated, "These offenses were allegedly committed by senior executives and directors to obtain and finance massive state energy supply contracts through corruption and fraud at the expense of US investors" [2].
Gautam Adani’s net worth is estimated between $82 billion and $104 billion [2, 4]. The criminal case that began in November 2024 with fraud and bribery allegations ends with the charges dropped on May 14, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. On May 15, 2026, Adani formally agreed to pay the $18 million civil penalty to settle the SEC case without admitting guilt [5, 6].
