A U.S. federal judge dismissed the criminal bribery case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani on Monday. It closed out a case that began nearly two years ago. But the ruling came with a pointed warning about how prosecutors handled the decision to drop it.
Here’s what happened, and why the judge wasn’t fully satisfied even while granting the dismissal.
What Was the Case About?
Federal prosecutors alleged something serious in November 2024. They said Adani and seven other defendants, including his nephew Sagar Adani, promised to pay more than $250 million in bribes. The goal was to win solar energy contracts from Indian government officials. Those contracts were expected to generate roughly $2 billion in profit over 20 years.
Prosecutors also alleged the group concealed the bribery plan. Meanwhile, they were raising money from U.S. investors. Separately, the U.S. Treasury Department reached a $275 million settlement with Adani Enterprises. That settlement covered apparent sanctions violations involving Iran.
Why Did the Case Get Dropped?
Court documents show the Department of Justice moved to dismiss the indictment in May 2026. Prosecutors filed the formal request through Trent McCotter, the Justice Department’s principal associate deputy attorney general. A senior DOJ official described the case as “primarily foreign, hard to prove and inconsistent with the agency’s current priorities.”
Before signing off, though, Brooklyn federal judge Nicholas Garaufis pushed back on that reasoning. He called the government’s initial explanation “bland and conclusory.” Still, he ultimately approved the dismissal anyway.
Did Adani’s $10 Billion Investment Pledge Play a Role?
This became the central question of the ruling. Adani’s attorney, Robert Giuffra, is also one of Donald Trump’s personal lawyers. In April, Giuffra told Justice Department officials that Adani would invest $10 billion in the American economy if the charges were dropped.
So the judge directly asked whether that pledge factored into the government’s decision. That’s a rare inquiry in the federal legal system. He ultimately concluded it did not influence the prosecutorial decision-making. Adani himself declared under oath that he was unaware of any agreement exchanging investment for the dismissal of charges.
Still, the judge didn’t let the optics go unmentioned. Garaufis wrote he took “no position on the ultimate propriety” of Giuffra’s repeated attempts to resolve the case with monetary offers. He added, “It is up to the public to decide what effect offers of this kind have on the equal administration of justice and the rule of law.”
What Did the Judge Criticize?
The dismissal came with real criticism attached. In his 47-page ruling, Garaufis criticized Trent McCotter directly. He wrote that McCotter “eschewed the professional opinions of innumerable officials from various federal offices and replaced them with his singular judgment.”
Garaufis also called something else “highly unusual.” McCotter reached his decision largely in collaboration with defense counsel. He seemingly did this without input from the FBI and SEC agents who investigated the case, or the prosecutors who originally brought it.
A Justice Department spokesperson responded to the criticism. They pointed to a July 4 court filing. In it, McCotter said he reached his decision after meeting with defense lawyers and other DOJ attorneys, along with his own independent analysis.
How Is Adani Responding?
Adani posted on social media. He wrote, “I welcome the U.S. Court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process.” He added that his faith in “the rule of law remained unwavering” throughout the case.
Who Is Gautam Adani?
The Adani Group is one of India’s largest business empires. It spans ports, power plants, cement factories, and media companies. Adani is worth an estimated $90 billion. He’s also a close ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hailing from the leader’s home state of Gujarat.
Bottom Line
The case is now closed, but not without a paper trail of judicial skepticism. Garaufis dismissed the charges as prosecutors requested. Still, he made clear he found the DOJ’s process “concerning.” He also questioned whether a $10 billion investment offer had any place influencing how the U.S. justice system handles a bribery case. For more on how this story develops, check out [our latest coverage of business and legal news] on the site.
This article will be updated if additional details emerge.
