‘How can this govt be part of probe on itself?’: Congress scrutinizes MEA’s response on Adani issue

The MEA has said the indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani by US prosecutors is a “legal matter” involving private companies | Photo Credit: PTI

Congress on Saturday (November 30, 2024) criticized the Ministry of External Affairs’ statement that the Indian government is in no way part of the US investigation into the Adani Group and asked how can this government be part of an investigation about himself.

In the first official reaction after the industrialist was charged with alleged fraud by US prosecutors, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is yet to receive any communication of cooperation in the case.

The Indian government is not a party to the matter in any way at this point, he said.

Labeling a media report on the comments, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said: “MEA spokesperson says the Indian government is not a party to the US probe into the Adani Group. It has simply stated the obvious. How can this? Will the government be part of an investigation into itself?

The MEA has said the indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani by US prosecutors is a “legal matter” involving private companies, individuals and the US Justice Department and that New Delhi was not informed about the case with advance.

“We consider this to be a legal matter involving private companies and individuals and the US Department of Justice. Obviously, there are established procedures and legal avenues in such cases, which we believe would be followed,” Mr Jaiswal said.

“The Indian government was not informed in advance about the issue. We have not had any discussions with the US government about it,” he added.

Gautam Adani, founding chairman of the ports-to-energy conglomerate, his nephew Sagar and another key executive have been accused by the US Department of Justice of being part of an alleged scheme to pay bribes of $265 million to Indian officials to obtain contracts for the supply of solar electricity that would produce benefits of $2 billion over a 20-year period.

The Adani Group has denied all the allegations as baseless.