Democratic Senators Challenge Doj's Dismissal of Billionaire Case

WHO:

NBC News - Gautam Adani, billionaire Indian businessman and founder of Adani Group.

Yahoo - Elizabeth Warren, Senator from Massachusetts; Richard Blumenthal, Senator from Connecticut; Todd Blanche, acting Attorney General; Trent McCotter, principal associate deputy attorney general; Joseph Nocella, U.S. Attorney; Nicholas Garaufis, U.S. District Judge.

Yahoo - Adani Group, based in Ahmedabad, India.

WHAT:

NBC News - The Trump administration moved to drop criminal fraud charges against Gautam Adani.

Yahoo - Adani was indicted in 2024 for his suspected role in a fraud and bribery scheme involving U.S. investors and Indian government officials.

Yahoo - Adani is accused of paying $250 million in bribes to win approval for developing India’s largest solar power plant.

Yahoo - The contracts for the solar power plant were projected to generate $2 billion in profits over 20 years.

Yahoo - Adani and a nephew agreed to pay $18 million to settle a civil fraud case with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Yahoo - The Treasury Department reached a $275 million settlement with Adani Enterprises Ltd. for violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran.

WHERE:

Yahoo - The case was filed in the Eastern District of New York.

Yahoo - Adani Group is based in Ahmedabad, India.

WHEN:

Yahoo - Adani was indicted in 2024.

Yahoo - The senators requested answers from the Justice Department no later than June 25.

WHY:

Yahoo - Senators Warren and Blumenthal questioned the DOJ's decision to drop the case, suggesting it appeared that Adani may have "bought his way to criminal immunity" by promising a $10 billion investment in the U.S.

Yahoo - The senators raised concerns about potential corruption under Trump and the implications of the DOJ's decision.

HOW:

Yahoo - The DOJ indicated it would not "devote further resources" to the case in a court filing.

Yahoo - The filing did not include signatures from the prosecutors assigned to the case, which is customary.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 21:35 UTC)

The Trump administration has moved to drop criminal fraud charges against Gautam Adani, the billionaire founder of Adani Group, who was indicted in 2024 for his alleged involvement in a fraud and bribery scheme linked to U.S. investors and Indian government officials. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have expressed concern over the Justice Department's decision, questioning whether Adani may have secured his immunity by promising a substantial investment in the U.S., and they have requested answers from the DOJ by June 25. The case, which was filed in the Eastern District of New York, has raised significant concerns about potential corruption and the implications of the DOJ's actions, especially given that the court filing to drop the charges lacked the customary signatures from the prosecutors involved.