New Delhi: Mukul Rohatgi, a well-known lawyer and former Attorney General of India, along with senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, has come forward to defend Gautam Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, against recent bribery allegations tied to the US Department of Justice (DOJ). These claims suggest the Adani Group paid around ₹2,029 crore (about USD 265 million) in bribes to Indian officials to win solar energy contracts. However, both lawyers argue that the charges lack clear evidence and details.
At a press briefing, Rohatgi stressed that neither Gautam nor Sagar Adani is named in the critical parts of the indictment, particularly those involving violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) or obstruction of justice. He pointed out that the accusations are vague, with no names of who allegedly received bribes or how the bribes were given. “I can’t see a single name,” he said, suggesting the allegations are too unclear for the Adanis to respond properly.
The Adani Group has firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating they are not facing charges under the FCPA. In an official statement, the group clarified that the charges they do face are related to securities fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, not bribery. They also vowed to fight the claims in court, calling them baseless.
Jethmalani questioned the timing of the allegations, suggesting they might be politically motivated to distract from other issues. He also accused opposition parties of using the allegations to score political points after losing recent elections. He pointed out that the indictment talks about a “conspiracy to bribe” rather than actual bribery, which he said is speculative and lacks solid proof.
The DOJ’s indictment mentions executives from Azure Power Global Ltd. and CDPQ being involved in bribery and obstructing justice, but Rohatgi clarified that no Adani officials are part of these accusations. The defense team believes this weakens the case against the Adani Group.
Both lawyers expressed confidence that American legal experts would handle the case effectively. They emphasized that the allegations are baseless and that the Adani Group will fight them vigorously to clear their name, describing the situation as an unjust attempt to tarnish their reputation.
