Billionaire Gautam Adani’s attempts to resolve US fraud charges against him have stalled, prolonging a regulatory overhang that has hindered the Adani Group’s global expansion, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Sources told Bloomberg that progress by Adani’s representatives with American officials has faltered in recent months as tensions between the US and India have intensified over trade, Russian oil, and India’s conflict with Pakistan. The Trump administration has signaled to Adani’s legal team that no resolution on allegations of a $250 million bribery scheme will be reached while bilateral relations remain strained.
Federal prosecutors continue to pursue the criminal case, which became public in late 2024. Adani faces parallel civil charges from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is still attempting to serve legal papers, including through Indian authorities, according to court filings in August. Neither the Adani Group nor the White House responded to requests for comment, and the US Justice Department declined to comment.
The stalled negotiations have restricted Adani’s ability to travel to the US due to the risk of arrest. While the conglomerate has raised funds from global lenders and pursued major acquisitions in India, the unresolved bribery probe continues to block access to US financing and business deals. For example, TotalEnergies SE, a partner in Adani Total Gas Ltd., has suspended new investments until the allegations are clarified. Overseas contracts, including a $2.6 billion airport and power transmission deal in Kenya, have also been affected, and a $10 billion US investment plan is on hold.
The situation highlights broader geopolitical dynamics. India’s richest men, including Adani and Mukesh Ambani, face indirect impacts from US-India tensions. Adani’s overtures toward China and strategic deals with BYD Co., China’s leading EV maker, reflect attempts to diversify international partnerships amid uncertainty, Bloomberg reported.
Earlier in the year, Bloomberg also noted that Adani’s legal team sought to argue that the prosecution did not align with US presidential priorities, but optimism for a resolution has waned in recent months.
