Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shielding Gautam Adani, who is embroiled in a Rs 2,200 crore bribery scandal in the US. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Gandhi claimed Adani continues to operate freely despite alleged fraud because of Modi's support. The BJP dismissed these allegations, with spokesperson Sambit Patra stating that Rahul was tarnishing Modi’s image for political gains.

Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations

Gandhi criticized the Prime Minister’s inaction, alleging, “Adani ji has committed a Rs 2,000 crore scam in America and roams freely in India because Modi ji is protecting him. The SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch, who should have investigated these irregularities, also failed to act and must be held accountable. He further claimed that the Prime Minister was under Adani’s influence, saying, “Adani has hijacked the country. Modi ji cannot act against him because it would expose his own vulnerabilities. Adani funds the BJP and benefits from Modi’s foreign trips, where he secures lucrative business deals.”

Key Highlights from Rahul’s Statements

• Demand for JPC Probe: Gandhi called for the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate Adani’s activities, saying this was essential to expose the truth.
• Adani’s Alleged Dominance: He accused Adani of "hijacking" the country, claiming that his influence had compromised the government’s ability to act impartially.
• Funding BJP: Citing investigations by US authorities, Gandhi alleged that Adani was involved in corruption and has been funding BJP for years.
• Failure of SEBI Chairperson: Gandhi accused SEBI chief Madhabi Buch of ignoring Adani’s wrongdoings, which he claimed had cost Indian retail investors significantly.
• Global Controversies: Gandhi pointed to Adani-related controversies in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Kenya, calling the US case “just the beginning.”

BJP's Counterarguments

Responding to Gandhi’s allegations, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra stated that no BJP-led government was in power in the Indian states mentioned in the US case, including Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh. He accused Gandhi of a smear campaign, saying, “Rahul Gandhi is repeating his 2019 Rafale narrative, for which he had to apologize in court. His claims are baseless and aimed at tarnishing the Prime Minister’s image.”

The US Case Against Adani

The case against Gautam Adani and seven others, filed in a New York Federal Court, accuses them of fraud and bribery worth billions. The charges stem from allegations that Adani planned to pay $265 million (₹2,200 crore) as bribes to Indian officials to secure solar energy contracts. The case, linked to Adani Green Energy Limited, involves high-ranking officials, including Adani’s nephew, Sagar Adani. The US alleges that the funds for the bribes were sourced from American investors, making the case a violation of US law.

Adani Group’s Denial

The Adani Group has denied all allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. A statement from the group asserted their adherence to laws and claimed that the accusations were part of a larger agenda to discredit the company.