'No request from US on this case', MEA on reports of summons to executives of Adani group in alleged bribery case

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs Friday said the Indian government was not informed in advance by the US about the indictment of Gautam Adani and other senior executives of the Adani Group nor did it receive any request to serve summons or arrest warrants.

Replying to questions during the weekly MEA briefing, MEA spokesperson Randheer Jaiswal said the government saw the issue as a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice.

"This is a matter that pertains to private individuals and private entities. We are not part of it legally in any manner at this point in time. We see it as a case between the US Department of Justice and private individuals and entities," he said. Jaiswal said the government had not received any request to serve summons or arrest warrants in the matter. He said such requests are part of mutual legal assistance and are examined on merits. "Obviously, there are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases, which we believe would be followed... We have not been informed in advance on the issue," he said. Jaiswal said there had been no "conversations" with the US on the matter.


The US Department of Justice had last week unsealed a criminal indictment against Adani and others for allegedly paying $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to gain solar energy contracts and allegedly lying about the same to raise money from investors in the US.

On Wednesday, the Adani Group clarified that its executives, including Gautam Adani, have not been charged with violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) over bribery, nor is the civil complaint filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission based on this. Instead, they have been charged on three counts in the criminal indictment-alleged securities fraud conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy and securities fraud, the group said in a statement.