Washington: The White House has acknowledged the existence of the allegations levied against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, who serves as the Chairman of Adani Group. Adani has been indicted in New York on charges related to his alleged involvement in a multibillion-dollar scheme encompassing bribery and fraud.
During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre conveyed her confidence in the ability of India and the United States to address this matter without undermining the strength of their partnership.
"It is, of course, aware of these allegations, and I would direct your attention to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a detailed understanding of the specifics surrounding these allegations against the Adani Group," she stated.
Jean-Pierre emphasized the robust nature of the relationship between the two countries. "Regarding the relationship between the United States and India, we are of the firm belief that it is built on a solid foundation, deeply rooted in the connections between our peoples and the cooperation on a broad spectrum of global issues," she asserted.
She also expressed confidence in the capacity of the two nations to effectively manage this situation. "We are confident in our ability to continue addressing this issue, as we have with other matters that have arisen. The specifics of this matter are something that the SEC and DOJ are in the process of addressing directly, but we maintain our belief in the strength of the relationship between India and the United States," the White House spokesperson added.
Earlier, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York had made public criminal charges against Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and other executives, accusing them of involvement in a bribery scheme.
On the same day, the Adani Group issued a formal statement in response to the bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, characterizing these accusations as baseless.
The Adani Group spokesperson reaffirmed the company's commitment to pursuing all legal avenues. "The accusations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against the directors of Adani Green are unfounded and denied. We will pursue all possible legal avenues to defend ourselves," the statement read.
The group further highlighted a critical aspect of the legal proceedings. "As per the statement issued by the US Department of Justice itself, 'The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.' We will seek all possible legal remedies to address this matter," the statement concluded.
