Asked about Adani, PM Modi says leaders don’t discuss ‘individual issues’

“Two prominent leaders of two countries never discuss such individual issues,” the Prime Minister said. The question put to him was: “Can I ask whether you discussed at all today, the case of Gautam Adani, who is one of the wealthiest man in Asia, and perceived as an ally of Prime Minister? Prime Minister Modi, have you asked the President to take action on that case?” Gautam Adani and seven others were indicted by a grand jury in New York last November in an alleged Rs 2,029 crore bribery case.

Trump had signed an executive order on Monday directing the US Justice Department to halt prosecuting Americans accused of bribing foreign government officials to win overseas business. While the order is meant to provide relief to US citizens, it will likely come as a breather for key executives of the Adani Group currently facing bribery charges in a US court. The executive order would provide relief to Azure Power— which had a contract (a build, operate and transfer deal) with an Adani Group firm for a solar project — and, by extension, the Adani Group.

Last November, the Department of Justice under the previous President Joe Biden had charged Adani for allegedly being part of a scheme to pay over US $ 250 million (about Rs 2,100 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange of favourable terms for solar power contracts. This was concealed from the US banks and investors from whom the Adani group raised billions of dollars for the project, the prosecutors had alleged.

The charges, brought by US prosecutors, had sparked concerns about the impact on US-India business ties and the broader strategic relationship between the two nations.

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s response, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi attacked him for “maintaining silence” over the Adani issue while in the country, and terming it a “personal matter” on foreign soil. “If you ask questions in the country, there is silence. If you ask abroad, it is a personal matter! Even in America, Modi Ji covered up Adani Ji’s corruption!” Gandhi posted on social media platform X. “When filling a friend’s pocket is “nation building” for Modiji, then taking bribes and looting the nation’s wealth becomes a “personal matter,” he said.