A US federal judge has requested that the Justice Department provide a formal explanation for its decision to drop criminal charges against Gautam Adani, the billionaire chairman of India’s Adani Group.
The court’s intervention signals skepticism regarding the abrupt dismissal and delays any final ruling on the formal termination of the case.
The charges, originally filed in 2024, alleged that Adani agreed to bribe Indian officials to secure approval for a solar power project and misled US investors.
The Adani Group has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the allegations were baseless.
The judge’s request for justification suggests that the court requires a clearer legal basis for the prosecution’s withdrawal before closing the matter.
This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened diplomatic engagement between Washington and New Delhi.