At a press briefing in the United States, on Thursday, February 13, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was asked about bribery allegations against industrialist Gautam Adani. A journalist questioned whether the issue had been discussed in his talks with US President Donald Trump. Modi dismissed the question, emphasising that diplomatic discussions between national leaders do not focus on the dealings of private individuals.
“India is a democracy built on the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’—the world is one family. Every Indian is part of this family, and we do not bring personal matters into conversations between two nations,” PM Modi stated.
The allegations against Adani originate from a case initiated by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2024 under President Joe Biden’s administration. The DOJ accused Adani of orchestrating a scheme to pay over $250 million (around ₹2,100 crore) in bribes to Indian officials to secure advantageous terms for solar power contracts. Investigators claim these transactions were concealed from US financial institutions and investors who had provided substantial funding to the Adani Group, as reported by Reuters.
The situation shifted dramatically following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency as the 47th US President. Shortly after taking office, Trump issued an executive order instructing the DOJ to suspend enforcement of a long-standing regulation frequently used in corruption investigations, including Adani’s case. The decision has sparked debate over the trajectory of the probe and its potential impact on business relations between the US and India.
Trump’s move to curb the DOJ’s investigation has drawn scrutiny, raising concerns about its implications for corporate accountability and global trade ethics. Given Adani’s extensive influence in India’s infrastructure and energy sectors, the case’s outcome could have far-reaching consequences for economic ties between the two nations.