The situation has escalated for Gautam Adani, India’s richest man and chairman of the Adani Group, as a US court has issued an arrest warrant for him and his nephew, Sagar Adani. The arrest warrants have stirred national politics, with the opposition party accusing the BJP of being complicit.
The allegations against Gautam Adani and his nephew centre around bribery claims. According to a complaint filed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gautam, Sagar, and seven other executives paid bribes to secure contracts for their company. The bribes allegedly amounted to nearly $265 million (around Rs 2236 crore), paid to Indian government officials to facilitate contracts for Adani’s renewable energy ventures.
The bribery took place between 2020 and 2024, and the contracts are expected to generate a profit of $2 billion over 20 years for the Adani Group. The SEC filed two charges—one for bribery and another for concealment. Following the court hearing, arrest warrants were issued against Gautam Adani and his nephew.
The news has sparked a political storm in India, with opposition parties ramping up pressure on the Modi government. The Congress party has demanded an investigation by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the allegations. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has accused Prime Minister Modi of having an internal conspiracy with his favoured businessmen.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also condemned the situation, stating, “The US government has issued an arrest warrant against Gautam Adani. This is a shame for the country. Modi ji has put a stain on India with Adani. We will not allow the country to become an Adani nation.”
In response to the opposition’s allegations, BJP leader Amit Malviya advised caution, stating, “It’s better to read the documents carefully before reacting. The document only cites an allegation and reminds us that the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.”