Amid growing global scrutiny, Congress sharpens attack on 'Modi-Adani nexus'

Hours after the Adani Group claimed that Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani were not implicated under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Congress launched a fierce attack on what it termed the "Adani-Modi nexus".

Supriya Shrinate, head of the Congress' social media department, accused Indian investigative agencies of turning a blind eye to the mounting allegations against Adani, alleging that he is being "shielded" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Referring to Modi's apparent protection of Adani, she remarked, "Raja ki jaan tote mein basti hai (the king's life is contained in the parrot)".

Shrinate emphasised that while Adani’s global troubles have deepened following the issuance of a warrant by a New York district court, he remains untouched in India. She pointed out how several of the world’s leading companies and governments have distanced themselves from the Adani Group, the significant setbacks including:

• Halt on investments by France's Total Energies: Total Energies, one of the world’s largest energy companies, has suspended any future investments in the Adani Group. The French company holds a 20 per cent stake in Adani Green.

• Review of Sri Lanka port loan by US agency: A US agency is reviewing a roughly $553-million loan related to Adani-supported port projects in Sri Lanka.

• Reevaluation of Adani Power deal by Sri Lanka: The Sri Lankan government is independently reviewing its power deal with the Adani Group.

• Workers' protests in Israel: Adani is facing operational disruptions at Israel's Haifa Port owing to ongoing worker disputes and protests.

• Kenya cancelling Adani deals: Kenya’s government has annulled Adani’s power and airport projects in the country.

• Bangladesh ordering power deal probe: A Bangladeshi court has directed an investigation into a controversial power deal involving Adani.

• Protests in Australia: Adani continues to face widespread protests in Australia against its coal mining and infrastructure projects.

• Switzerland freezing Adani accounts: Swiss authorities have frozen Rs 2,617 crore across multiple Swiss bank accounts linked to Adani under investigations into fraud and money laundering.

• US warrants issued: The United States has issued warrants in connection with charges of fraud and bribery against Adani.

Shrinate questioned why Indian agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have remained silent in the face of such serious international allegations.

Responding to the Adani Group’s claims of innocence, Shrinate stated that the group had issued a misleading and hasty response aimed at deflecting attention, pointing out that the Adani Group conveniently omitted the fact that the US FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) does not apply to foreign nationals, making any direct mention of Adani by name unlikely.

"The same indictment also mentions Azure Power, a US company and Adani's partner. There is no doubt that the US Department of Justice has presented compelling evidence implicating Adani," Shrinate added.

"It seems the defenders of Adani have either not read the grand jury’s indictment or are deliberately ignoring it. The indictment clearly states that 'Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and others orchestrated a plan to offer, promise, and pay bribes to Indian government officials to coerce the central PSU SECI into entering power purchase agreements with power companies'," she continued.

Shrinate also highlighted that the indictment alleges the Adanis paid approximately Rs 2,029 crore (around $265 million) in bribes to Indian government officials to enforce power purchase agreements (PSAs) with state electricity distribution companies, and that further bribes were promised.

Reading directly from the US court’s judgment, Shrinate said, "The indictment goes on to describe how these bribes were used to influence the actions of state-owned companies, ensuring that Adani’s deals went ahead."

Shrinate outlined four key demands:

1. Gautam Adani should be taken into custody without delay.

2. A comprehensive discussion on the charges against him must be held in the Indian Parliament.

3. The ED and CBI should initiate an impartial and thorough investigation into the allegations he faces, not only in the US but globally.

4. Lastly, the BJP, its ecosystem, government officials, ministers, and MPs must cease defending a tainted individual who is tarnishing India's reputation on the international stage.