Adani Group focused on quashing US bribery case—are negotiations with Hindenburg also in progress?
#News Bureau May5,2025
US media outlet Bloomberg reports that the Adani Group has approached the Trump administration seeking dismissal of bribery charges filed against it in the US. Additionally, unconfirmed reports suggest that discussions may also be underway with Hindenburg Research.
The Adani Group, led by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, has begun efforts to resolve bribery and fraud cases pending against it in the US. According to Bloomberg News, Adani Group representatives have held meetings with officials from President Donald Trump’s administration, seeking the dismissal of criminal charges against Gautam Adani and key associates. Simultaneously, the group is reportedly working toward a possible settlement regarding disputes arising from the 2023 Hindenburg Research report, though no major media outlet has confirmed this development. Speculation about it is circulating on social media.
In November last year, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed charges against Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and other officials of Adani Green Energy. They are accused of paying $265 million (about ₹2,100 crore) in bribes to Indian government officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure lucrative solar power contracts expected to yield $2 billion in profits over two decades. The group also faces allegations of misleading US investors and global lenders to obtain over $3 billion in funding. Following the revelations, the combined market value of Adani’s nine listed companies fell by about $13 billion.
Reports suggest the Adani Group initiated talks with Trump administration officials earlier this year, which have gained momentum in recent weeks. Sources indicate that if negotiations continue at this pace, a resolution could be reached within a month. Adani’s legal team is arguing that the prosecution runs counter to Trump’s policy priorities, especially after his February 2025 executive order pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prosecutions—a move designed to bolster US business competitiveness abroad, and one that could benefit Adani.
The group was also embroiled in controversy following Hindenburg Research’s 2023 report, which accused it of stock market manipulation, accounting fraud, and misuse of offshore tax havens. The report triggered a sharp selloff, wiping out around $150 billion in market value. While the Adani Group dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and threatened legal action, no lawsuit has materialized so far.
Posts on the social media platform X have reignited claims that the Adani Group is negotiating a settlement with Hindenburg. However, no independent verification of these claims exists, and much of the chatter appears speculative. One user commented, “Adani may be trying to settle with Hindenburg, but will that really salvage his reputation?”
The Adani Group has consistently denied all allegations, asserting its commitment to “the highest standards of transparency and regulatory compliance.” It has enlisted top-tier US law firms, including Kirkland & Ellis and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, and stepped up lobbying efforts, spending over $130,000 on lobbying since 2023.
Following news of the talks with the Trump administration, Adani Group shares rose as much as 6% on May 5, 2025, with gains across Adani Ports, Adani Enterprises, and Adani Green Energy, adding ₹18,000 crore to the group’s market capitalization. Investors are optimistic that resolving the case could revive the group’s stalled $10 billion US investment plans, which include nuclear energy projects, utilities, and an East Coast port.
In India, opposition parties have seized on the developments. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate tweeted, “Adani’s people are lobbying Trump’s team to get their fraud case dismissed.” The issue has sparked political debate from Parliament to the streets. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, dismissed the controversy, framing it as a private business matter unrelated to the government.
If the Adani Group secures a settlement with the Trump administration or resolves its dispute with Hindenburg, it would mark a significant step in restoring its global reputation and business ambitions. The case’s outcome could also impact India-US trade ties and corporate governance discourse. For now, the Adani Group has 21 days to formally respond to the SEC’s allegations, with proceedings continuing under the Trump administration’s new leadership.
