Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for the immediate arrest of industrialist Gautam Adani on Thursday, following charges filed against him in the US for alleged bribery and fraud. Speaking at a press conference hours after US prosecutors accused Adani and his associates of paying over $250 million in bribes to Indian officials, Gandhi said the charges clearly show that Adani has violated both Indian and US laws.
The Adani Group has yet to comment on the allegations.
Gandhi also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek hain to safe hain” slogan, suggesting that as long as Modi and Adani remain aligned, they will be shielded in India.
Gandhi called for Adani’s immediate arrest and questioning, and demanded the removal of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, accusing her of being a “protector” of Adani.
He added that the issue would be raised in Parliament during the upcoming Winter session, starting Monday.
The Congress leader reaffirmed the opposition’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into the matter and alleged that Adani would not face arrest or investigation in India due to the protection provided by the Modi government. Gandhi also insisted that the investigation should be conducted across all states, regardless of the ruling party.
In a statement, Breon Peace, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which brought the case, said the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars, Adani, chairman of the ports-to-energy Adani Group, his nephew Sagar R Adani, who is an executive director at the conglomerate’s renewable energy arm Adani Green Energy Ltd, and its former CEO Vneet Jaain were charged with securities fraud, securities fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy.
The Adanis were also charged in a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) civil case. The five-count indictment also accuses Sagar and Jain of breaking federal laws.
The Adanis were also charged in a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) civil case. The five-count indictment also accuses Sagar and Jain of breaking federal laws.
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