"Hope that Centre will take this seriously...": Farooq Abdullah after Gautam Adani indicted by US prosecutors in alleged bribery case

Srinagar: After US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and others in an alleged bribery scam, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday called on the Central government to do a thorough investigation in the matter.
"JPC has been demanded and I hope that the Centre will take this seriously and a thorough investigation will be done in the matter. He has been accused earlier also," Abdullah said.
Earlier today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi called for Adani's arrest and said that it is "clear" and "established" that the Adani Group Chairman has broken both American and Indian laws.
"Wherever there is corruption, investigation should be done. But investigation will begin with Adani. Unless he is arrested, it won't be credible. So, begin it from there. Arrest Adani, interrogate him and then nab whoever is involved. In the end, Narendra Modi's name will come out because BJP's entire funding structure is in his hands. So, even if the PM wants, he can't do anything. In a way, Adani has hijacked the country. India is in Adani's grip," Rahul Gandhi said.
However, the Adani Group strongly refuted bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of the Adani Green as baseless.
The Adani Group spokesperson in an official statement said all legal recourse will be taken.
"The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied," the statement read.
The group further highlighted a key aspect of the legal proceedings, noting, "As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, 'the charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.' All possible legal recourse will be sought."
Amid these allegations, Adani Green Energy also informed stock exchanges that its subsidiaries have decided to defer their planned US dollar-denominated bond offerings.
It said "In light of these developments, our subsidiaries have presently decided not to proceed with the proposed USD denominated bond offerings".
US prosecutors had charged Gautam Adani and others in an alleged Solar Energy contract bribery case. A five-count criminal indictment has been unsealed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charging prominent Indian executives including Chairman of the Adani Group Gautam Adani by linking them to an alleged bribery and fraud scheme.