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BUSINESS EYE NOVEMBER 29, 2024 | The Indian Eye 32

Envoys and legal experts dismiss US indictment of

against Adani firm as “baseless and blackmail”

White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre says that the relationship

between the US and India remains solid

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi/Washington, DC

ollowing the US prosecutors
charging Adani Group Chair-
Fman Gautam Adani and oth-
ers in alleged Solar Energy Contract
bribery case, Vidya Bhushan Soni,
former Indian Ambassador to Ban-
gladesh, downplayed concerns over
the framing of charges, emphasizing
that the Indian government is not in-
volved in the alleged wrongdoing.
He further noted that the issue
revolves around a private firm’s ac-
tions, specifically bribes paid to state
government officials, which he called
a side business that would not impact
India’s reputation.
Soni said, “...Framing charges is
something that we don’t have to wor-
ry about. They will go through the
process, as I think the Washington
press secretary also has mentioned
that let the law take its own progress. Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani poses for a picture with ambassadors from the EU, Belgium, Denmark and Germany during their visit to
Let the process start. And they will the Khavda Solar Park and Mundra port, in Ahmedabad recently (ANI file photo)
ask questions and they will ask doc-
uments whatever it is, some of them earn a profit of USD 2 billions in including against a former Prime al financial transactions during the
are already in their position.” 20 years. USD 265 millions at the Minister. What happened? Nothing. Iran crisis and the other when Rus-
Also, renowned criminal lawyer rate of 10.64per cent per annum will Similarly, in Canada, has anything sian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Advocate Vijay Aggarwal shared his become USD 2 billions in 20 years. happened? No, nothing,” he said. publicly admitted that the “US is in
perspective on the ongoing Adani This is against the common sense, Amid the row, researcher and the business of blackmailing.”
controversy, specifically the US Allegations in the indictment are lu- senior journalist RN Bhaskar has Meanwhile, the White House
prosecutors’ charges involving Gau- dicrous. Why will a person pay bribe claimed that this whole episode is a has said it is aware of the allegations
tam Adani and others in a purported for earing an amount which he can ploy to “blackmail India.” against Indian billionaire Gautam
bribery case related to solar energy otherwise earn by keeping in bank Bhaskar alleged that whenever Adani, chairman of Adani Group,
contracts. deposit?” the advocate added. the US wants to replace a leader in a who was indicted in New York
Aggarwal dismissed the initial He further pointed out that the country, it creates public agitation by over his role in an alleged multibil-
media frenzy surrounding the 54- case is similar to the recent Canadi- creating an “excuse” and later saying lion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme.
page indictment, stating, “As of now, an case where the Canadian govern- that the leader was replaced through Addressing reporters during her
I do not see much. If you look at this ment is not having any evidence and “public will.” daily briefing, White House Press
indictment, you won’t be able to con- nothing is happening on the same. “You realize that this could be Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre ex-
nect any dots.” There is false allegation and a method to blackmail India... But pressed confidence that Indian and
He further stated that, in his there is no evidence, in the absence there’s a third dimension that you the US could navigate the issue with-
view, the case is “just one more” in of evidence entire case will fall like must be looking at. And the third out compromising their robust part-
a long line of such allegations with nine pins, said Advocate Vijay Ag- dimension is that whenever the US nership.
no immediate impact on business or garwal. wants to replace a leader in a coun- Jean-Pierre said that the rela-
personal reputations. “No repercus- Aggarwal drew comparisons try, it uses an excuse to create a pub- tionship between the US and India
sions here in India. No repercussions with previous high-profile cases to lic agitation and then gets a leader remains solid. “What I will say is on
in business. No repercussions per- underscore the need for caution. He replaced by saying, it’s a public will. the US and India relationship, we
sonally. A person is presumed inno- pointed to the coal scam in India and We had nothing to do with it,” he believe that it stands on an extreme-
cent until proven guilty,” he asserted. ongoing legal proceedings in Canada, said. ly strong foundation anchored in ties
“In para 45 and 49 of the in- questioning the real impact of such Bhaskar backed his claims using between our people and cooperation
dictment, it is mentioned that USD charges. “Look at the coal scam cas- two instances where he said that the across a full range of global issues,”
265 millions were paid as a bribe to es. Various charge sheets were filed, US had “weaponized” internation- she said.

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