A high-profile corruption case filed in a U.S. Federal Court against Indian industrialist Gautam Adani has ignited intense political debates in India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh. The charges levelled against Adani concern providing bribes to state officials and have seriously called into question governance and transparency at that time.
The Brooklyn Federal Court charged Gautam Adani and seven others with corruption and fraud, specifically bribery of officials to win a major solar energy project in India. The case also involves misleading financial practices to secure funding, and in view of American investors’ money, U.S. authorities have started to investigate the matter.
The allegations link this scam to Andhra Pradesh, where bribes amounting to ₹2,029 crores were allegedly paid to state officials in 2021. These payments were reportedly made to facilitate agreements tied to the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited.
Court documents claim that Adani conducted meetings with foreign representatives in Andhra Pradesh on three occasions—August 7, September 12, and November 20, 2021. During these meetings, substantial bribes were allegedly distributed to key officials. The case further alleges that between 2019 and 2024, under the YSRCP government, $228 million (₹1,750 crores) was paid to secure favorable agreements.
One such deal, signed on December 1, 2021, involved Andhra Pradesh’s power companies procuring 7,000 MW of electricity. This alleged large-scale corruption has sparked widespread criticism and political discussions in the state, with opposition parties demanding answers about the role of officials in these controversial transactions.
