Representatives of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his companies met with officials from the Trump administration to dismiss the criminal charges brought against him in a foreign bribery investigation, according to people familiar with the matter. The talks, which began earlier this year, escalated in recent weeks and could lead to a resolution next month if the pace continues, according to some sources, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions.
While previous administrations used the 1977 law to prosecute domestic and foreign companies for bribing officials abroad, Trump expressed frustration that cases too often undermine U.S. economic interests. In a February executive order, he instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to suspend actions related to the FCPA until she issued new enforcement guidelines. Several career prosecutors resigned in protest.
A federal judge ultimately agreed to allow the government to withdraw charges that Adani received illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials, but dismissed the charges with prejudice. The Adani Group has denied the allegations. Since then, the second richest man in Asia has tried to influence U.S. authorities through various channels, seeking to avoid a conviction and limit the financial impact the allegations may have on his international business interests.
Representatives of the billionaire, known for his close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reached out to government officials in India for advice on how to deal with Trump as the leaders of both countries seek ways to strengthen economic ties, according to one source. Senate lobbying records show that BGR represents India in trade negotiations with the Trump administration.
President Trump has already distanced himself from his predecessors by expressing his concern about legal proceedings in the United States under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Adani's representatives are trying to argue that his prosecution does not align with President Donald Trump's priorities and should be reconsidered, said one source. A representative of the Adani Group declined to comment, as did spokespersons for the Department of Justice and the White House. The Biden administration revealed the accusation against 62-year-old Adani and his nephew Sagar, as well as a parallel civil suit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), days after Trump's electoral victory in November.
In the United States, Adani has recruited a group of high-level lawyers and lobbyists to work on his behalf, seeking conversations with the administration, according to sources. This prevented the administration from later re-filing the charges to potentially keep Adams subject to political demands. "This will mean many more jobs for the U.S.," Trump stated at that time. Since then, some legal actions related to the FCPA have been dismissed. In March, a meeting was held with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and the Department of Justice, according to one source.
Adani's network in the United States, first described by Bloomberg in mid-February, has continued to evolve. Adani has also turned to BGR Group, a government relations firm known for its influence in the Trump administration, according to sources. The mayor has maintained his innocence. The Department of Justice closed an international bribery case against former executives of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. The former employees, who denied any wrongdoing and were to be tried in New Jersey, were accused of bribing foreign officials to expedite a construction project in India.
But another initiative from the Trump administration to overturn a corruption case — dropping charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams — sparked political controversy. In recent discussions, Mark Filip of the law firm Kirkland & Ellis has been his primary spokesperson, according to some sources. At that time, prosecutors stated that Gautam Adani promised to pay $250 million in bribes to regional officials in India to close solar energy contracts.
