Opposition parties on Thursday called for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into alleged bribery linked to an Adani Group company in the United States. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a government-owned entity, of playing a central role in the “corruption scandal.”
The Adani Group has strongly denied the bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green. Meanwhile, the BJP stated that the legal process will unfold accordingly and criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Jairam Ramesh took to X to allege that SECI was involved in a reverse auction process to select winners among private companies, which ultimately led to the signing of purchase agreements with various states.
“The key player in this exposed Adani corruption scandal, according to US agencies, is SECI, a Government of India company. SECI invited bids from private companies and conducted a reverse auction to select the winner, and on its recommendations, states entered into purchase agreements,” Ramesh posted.
He also pointed to the documented bribery cases outlined in the US indictments in states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Jammu & Kashmir, calling for strict action. He questioned whether SECI would also be investigated, drawing comparisons to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and raising concerns about solar power contracts in Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
Responding to the Congress accusations, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the company would defend itself and emphasized that the law would take its course.
“Since morning, we have seen media reports about a company and the case against it in the US, involving allegations and counter-allegations. The company will issue a statement and defend itself. The law will take its course,” Patra said during a press conference.
He also criticized Rahul Gandhi for sensationalizing the issue, noting that he had previously raised similar allegations over the Rafale deal and the Covid-19 crisis, only to later apologize after being challenged in court.
“Today, Rahul Gandhi has once again used the same approach in his press conference, presenting the issue in a way to exaggerate its significance. He did this before 2019 with the Rafale deal, claiming a big revelation, and even with Covid-19, only to later apologize in the Supreme Court. This is his method of undermining India’s institutions,” Patra remarked.
The Adani Group vehemently denied the bribery allegations, calling them baseless. A spokesperson for the company emphasized that legal recourse would be pursued.
“The allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against Adani Green directors are baseless,” the statement said. “As stated by the US Department of Justice, ‘the charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.’ All legal options will be explored.”
The Adani Group also reaffirmed its commitment to high standards of governance, transparency, and regulatory compliance across its operations globally. “We assure our stakeholders, partners, and employees that we are a law-abiding organization, fully compliant with all applicable laws,” the statement added.
In light of the ongoing controversy, Adani Green Energy announced to stock exchanges that its subsidiaries had decided to postpone their planned US dollar-denominated bond offerings. “In light of these developments, our subsidiaries have presently decided not to proceed with the proposed USD-denominated bond offerings,” the company said.
To read more about Green Hydrogen Industry News continue reading Bioenergytimes.com
