Still awaiting India's response on notices to Adanis: SEC, DOJ

Mumbai: The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are awaiting India's response to a request seeking assistance to serve notices on Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani in a securities fraud and bribery case, according to a status report of the case filed in a New York court.

The SEC in February sought help from India's Ministry of Law & Justice to serve 'Notices of Lawsuit' (informing the parties about the filing of a lawsuit) and 'Requests for Waiver of Service of Summons' (requesting the defendants to voluntarily receive legal documents) on the Adani Group chairman and his nephew. The assistance was sought under the Hague Service Convention, which facilitates legal cooperation in cross-border cases.

The ministry had "confirmed" receiving the request and directed "relevant judicial authorities in India to attempt to serve" them.


"In advance of this status report, the SEC sought additional updates from the India MoLJ concerning service but has not received a response," SEC counsel Christopher M Colorado said in his April 25 status report, reviewed by ET.

The Ministry of Law & Justice did not respond to a request for comment till press time Saturday.

The report, addressed to Magistrate Judge James Cho, said the SEC counsel has identified the counsel representing Gautam Adani and sent the 'Notice of Lawsuit' and 'Request for Waiver of Service of Summons' to the counsel. "To date, neither defendant has agreed to waive service of the summons and complaint," it said.

ET reported that the Adani Group had appointed US legal firms Kirkland & Ellis and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan to deal with this matter.