“Leaders don’t discuss individual issues…”: PM Modi Says Adani Bribery Issue Was Not Discussed with Donald Trump

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday was questioned about the bribery allegations against businessman Gautam Adani and whether the issue was discussed during his meeting with US President Donald Trump. In his response, PM Modi stated that such individual matters are not typically discussed between leaders of two countries.

"Every Indian is mine. India is a democracy and our culture is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' – we consider the whole world as one family. Two prominent leaders of two countries never discuss such individual issues,” said PM Modi.

The US Department of Justice, under President Joe Biden, accused Adani of being involved in a scheme to bribe Indian officials with over USD 250 million (approximately ₹2,100 crore) in exchange for favorable terms for solar power contracts. The case also involves allegations that this bribe was concealed from US banks and investors who helped raise billions of dollars for the Adani Group’s project, leading to the charges against him.

Following these allegations, and soon after Donald Trump assumed office as the 47th President of the United States, an executive order was issued. The order directed the Department of Justice to temporarily halt the enforcement of a law, established nearly half a century ago, that had been used to investigate the Adani Group. The executive order also instructed the Attorney General to review the guidelines and policies for investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). During this review period, the Attorney General was asked to suspend new investigations or enforcement actions, unless a special exception was made.

In response to the bribery and fraud allegations, Gautam Adani addressed the matter, stating that the legal challenges involving the US Department of Justice were not new for the Adani Group. "As most of you would have read, less than two weeks back, we faced a set of allegations from the US about compliance practices at Adani Green Energy," he explained. "This is not the first time we have faced such challenges. What I can tell you is that every attack makes us stronger, and every obstacle becomes a stepping stone for a more resilient Adani Group."​