Adani indictment sparks off political slugfest

Cong leader Rahul Gandhi demands tycoon's arrest, accuses PM Modi of 'protecting' him; parties say will raise matter in House session

- Saubhadra Chatterji

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday demanded that Adani Group chief Gautam Adani be arrested and interrogated after US prosecutors charged the billionaire and his companies for allegedly paying over $250 million to officials in some Indian states.

Gandhi claimed that Adani "won't be arrested as the Indian Prime Minister is standing behind him and protecting him".

Gandhi's comments came in a press conference after US prosecutors charged Adani, 62, his nephew Sagar, and other defendants for paying over $250 million in bribes between 2020 and 2024 to Indian government officials to win solar energy contracts on terms that could potentially bring in more than $2 billion in profit to the conglomerate. They alleged that bribes were paid in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh (then ruled by the Biju Janata Dal and YSR Congress Party respectively), and likely paid in Chattisgarh (Congress), Tamil Nadu (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), and Jammu & Kashmir (under central rule).

Gandhi said, "It is now pretty clear and established in the US that Mr Adani has broken both American and Indian laws. He has been indicted is the US. I am wondering, why is he still running around as a free man? CMs have been arrested. Many other people have been arrested on lesser charges and Mr Adani has done a ₹2,000 crore scam. But, he is running around scot-free."

The latest revelations also gave the Opposition fresh ammunition to target the Narendra Modi-led government in the upcoming winter session of Parliament that will start from November 25.