NEW DELHI: The $265 million bribery charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani could potentially be dismissed after Donald Trump assumes office on January 20, 2025, according to prominent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra. Batra explained that with a new administration, the Trump-led Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) might reevaluate the charges, especially if they are found to be lacking merit or not in good faith.
The charges against Adani and his associates stem from a multi-billion-dollar scheme allegedly involving securities fraud, bribery of Indian government officials, and misleading investors. The indictment also raised questions about the extraterritorial application of U.S. laws, as the accused parties do not reside in the U.S. This legal issue centers on whether U.S. laws can be applied to actions that occurred outside American borders, particularly in cases involving foreign nationals like Adani.
Batra suggested that the Adani group could potentially bring the issue to the Indian government, which might raise it bilaterally with the Trump administration. Should the charges be deemed weak or politically motivated, the new administration could decide to drop both criminal and civil cases.
As Trump prepares for his second term, his administration is expected to make significant changes in key legal and judicial appointments. Several federal officials, including SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, are set to leave office around the same time, potentially influencing the fate of ongoing cases like Adani’s.
Web Team, C6N
