New Delhi: Citing suspicious timing and inaccurate reporting, senior lawyers Mukul Rohatagi and Mahesh Jethmalani today raised several questions on the US indictment charging billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani for paying bribes of Rs 2,100 crore to Indian government officials to secure contacts.
Speaking to reporters, noted lawyer and former attorney general of India, Mukul Rohatgi said he has reviewed the US indictment and found that neither Gauta, Adani nor his nephew Sagar have been named in counts 1 and 5.
“Count 1 pertains to a conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which is similar to India’s Prevention of Corruption Act. This count names other individuals, including some officers and a foreign party, but excludes the Adanis. Count 5 involves obstruction of justice, a serious charge, yet neither Mr. Adani nor his nephew is mentioned. The indictment primarily targets other individuals,” he said.
He claimed that the allegations by the US lack clear details such as who was bribed, how, and which department the officials belong to.
“The charge sheet is silent on these essential points, making it unclear how one should respond,” he added.
Mahesh Jethamalani backs Adani
Similar sentiments were echoed by Mahesh Jethmalani as well about the bribery charges against the Adani Group. He said the indictment is very “sketchy” and that its timing is “suspicious” given that it came just before the winter session of the Parliament began.