Lawyers for Gautam Adani have requested a U.S. judge to formally dismiss criminal charges, following the Department of Justice's decision last month to cease prosecution. This action aims to officially close the legal proceedings for the conglomerate in the U.S., which previously included civil settlements with the SEC and a sanctions-related agreement with the Treasury.
What Happened
Lawyers representing Gautam Adani have submitted a formal request to a U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, urging the judge to dismiss criminal charges that were previously leveled against the billionaire. This step follows the U.S. Department of Justice's decision last month to stop pursuing the prosecution. The legal team, led by Robert Giuffra, filed the request to Judge Nicholas Garaufis to officially close the case, arguing that the charges were outside the reach of U.S. law and that the prosecution would face difficulties in proving bribery allegations. While the Justice Department indicated it would stop the prosecution in May 2026, this court filing serves as the procedural step to finalize the dismissal of the indictment.
The Path to Legal Closure
The request marks the final phase in resolving multiple U.S. regulatory and legal investigations that have impacted the Adani Group over the past year. The criminal case, originally filed in 2024, centered on allegations of a bribery scheme involving Indian energy contracts and potential misrepresentations to investors. In May 2026, the Department of Justice (DOJ) moved to drop these criminal charges, stating it would not devote further resources to the case. This followed separate resolutions involving other U.S. agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Financial Settlements and Regulatory Status
As part of resolving the broader legal challenges in the U.S., the Adani Group and its executives have engaged in financial settlements. Adani Enterprises Limited reached an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department to pay $275 million to settle alleged violations of Iran sanctions related to LPG shipments. Additionally, civil charges brought by the SEC against Gautam Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, were settled. Under this agreement, Gautam Adani agreed to pay $6 million, and Sagar Adani agreed to pay $12 million. These settlements were made without the individuals or companies admitting to or denying the allegations, bringing these specific regulatory issues to a close.
What Investors Should Track
For investors and market participants, the key monitorable is the formal sign-off from Judge Nicholas Garaufis. Once the judge officially approves the motion to dismiss, the criminal case against the group will be permanently closed. With the civil and sanctions-related settlements already agreed upon and paid, this final court order would effectively remove the legal overhang that has been part of the group's narrative since the original charges were filed in 2024. Investors will likely look for this final judicial confirmation to signify the complete resolution of these U.S.-based legal matters.