Gautam Adani has secured a major legal victory in the United States after a federal court dismissed securities and fraud charges against the businessman
and his nephew, Sagar Adani. The decision brings an end to a high-profile US criminal case that had cast uncertainty over the global ambitions of the Adani Group. US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn ruled on Monday that the conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud charges against Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani should be dismissed. The case originated from an indictment filed during the final days of former US President Joe Biden’s administration in 2024. The allegations had centred on claims that Adani and others were involved in a plan to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure solar power contracts. Adani has repeatedly denied the accusations. Importantly, the dismissal was granted “with prejudice”, preventing the US government from bringing the same charges against the two Adanis again. The ruling represents a significant development for Adani, whose group had faced heightened scrutiny in the US following the criminal indictment. The legal proceedings were part of a wider set of challenges involving the conglomerate. The Adani Group and its founder had also faced regulatory action involving US authorities, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Treasury Department. Adani welcomed the court ruling in a post on X, saying, “I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process." The US Attorney’s office in Brooklyn did not immediately issue a comment on the ruling.
I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process.
Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering.
My deepest gratitude to those who never lost faith in us, in the system and in…— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) August 10, 2026
Adani Group Agrees To $275 Million Iran Sanctions Settlement
While the criminal charges against Gautam and Sagar Adani have been dismissed, other matters involving the group have continued to draw attention in the US.
Adani Enterprises Ltd., the flagship company of the Adani Group, agreed to pay $275 million to resolve an investigation by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control concerning alleged violations of US sanctions related to Iran.
Meanwhile, Judge Garaufis has not yet agreed to dismiss allegations of violating US anti-bribery laws and obstruction of justice involving five other defendants named in the case.
The judge has asked the government to provide additional clarification explaining its request to abandon those charges.
Judge Questions US Government’s Reasoning
The dismissal followed months of legal discussions and negotiations after US prosecutors sought to withdraw the case against the Adanis.
In June, Garaufis had expressed reservations about the government's request, saying prosecutors had “failed” to adequately justify why the case should be dropped. He subsequently ordered the government to provide a written explanation.
Adani was also asked to provide additional information. The billionaire maintained that his commitment to invest in the US had no bearing on the government's decision to seek dismissal of the case. Garaufis agreed with that position in Monday’s ruling.
US federal prosecutors typically have broad authority to discontinue criminal proceedings, although the judge retains a role in reviewing such requests.
Judge Criticises DOJ Official Over Case Arguments
The ruling also contained sharp criticism of R. Trent McCotter, the principal associate deputy attorney general.
In a July 4 memorandum submitted to the court, McCotter had challenged the original indictment and described the prosecution as having “extraordinary proof problems.”
Garaufis, however, disputed parts of McCotter’s reasoning. The judge specifically criticised the claim that “not a single penny has ever been lost” on the securities involved in the case.
The court also found insufficient support for McCotter’s suggestion that the Biden administration had improperly handed the matter over to the administration of President Donald Trump.
Garaufis wrote that “McCotter’s baseless assertion is unbecoming of his office."
The court's decision removes one of the most major legal obstacles facing Adani in the US. The case had attracted considerable attention because of the potential implications for the conglomerate's international expansion and access to global capital.
With the criminal charges against Gautam and Sagar Adani now dismissed with prejudice, the outcome could provide greater clarity as the group evaluates future investments and business opportunities in the American market.
