A U.S. District Judge has ordered Gautam Adani to submit a sworn statement regarding the dismissal of a 2024 bribery indictment. The court is seeking details on any agreements linked to the Justice Department's decision to drop the charges. Adani must file this affidavit by July 15, following the prosecutor's move to end the case citing proof challenges.
U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis has issued a formal order requiring Indian industrialist Gautam Adani to provide a sworn affidavit by July 15. The order centers on the U.S. Justice Department's decision to drop criminal charges that were filed against Adani and other associates in late 2024.
Inquiry into Case Dismissal
The judge is specifically probing whether Adani or his representatives were involved in any promises, offers, or agreements that might have influenced the government's decision to abandon the case. The original indictment had accused the industrialist of participating in a bribery scheme involving over $250 million allegedly paid to secure solar energy contracts. Adani has consistently and strongly denied these allegations throughout the proceedings.
Legal Context of the Prosecution
The U.S. Justice Department formally announced in May 2026 that it would not continue to allocate resources to these criminal charges. Following an earlier request for clarification from the court in June, R. Trent McCotter, the department’s principal associate deputy attorney-general, filed a response on July 4. In this filing, the department argued that the original securities charges were flawed and should not have been initiated. The prosecution noted that the case involved foreign matters that presented significant proof challenges and emphasized that no financial losses occurred regarding the securities in question.
Next Steps for Investors
Adani’s legal team, headed by Robert Giuffra Jr., has maintained that the case lacked both legal and factual merit. The upcoming filing of the sworn affidavit is the next major step in this judicial process. While federal prosecutors typically hold wide discretion over whether to pursue or drop cases, the judge’s current order indicates continued judicial scrutiny over the justification provided by the Justice Department. Investors and market observers are monitoring the situation to see if the submission of this document effectively concludes the court's oversight regarding the dismissal of these specific charges.