NEW DELHI: The stage was set on Monday for a clash between India’s ruling coalition and the opposition over corruption charges the US Department of Justice has brought against businessman Gautam Adani, considered a close associate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The first day of the winter session of parliament saw both houses being adjourned over demands for a discussion on the politically explosive case as well as on the deadly violence in Sambhal and Manipur.

Jagdeep Dhankar, chairman of the Rajya Sabha, received 13 notices from opposition MPs to raise the issue of “alleged corruption, bribery and financial irregularities of the Adani Group”.

Some members also submitted notices calling for a discussion on the violence in Sambhal, Manipur and the landslide-hit areas of Wayanad.

Dhankar, however, rejected the notices saying, “These notices do not conform to the directives imparted by the chair on this behalf. I have not been able to persuade myself to agree to the same.”

Proceedings were then adjourned for 15 minutes and then for the remainder of the day. The House will reconvene on Wednesday.

Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, began the proceedings by reading out obituary references. The House obser­ved a minute’s silence to pay respects to the deceased.

However, as opposition MPs asked for a discussion on the US indictment involving billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, Birla announced that the House was adjourned till 12pm. When proceedings resumed, oppositions reiterated their demand that was rejected by Sandhya Ray who was occupying the chair at the time. The Lok Sabha will reconvene on Wednesday, 11am.

Last week, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), accused Adani of running a $265 million bribery scheme from 2020 to 2024 to secure solar energy contracts in India, projected to yield $2 billion in profits over 20 years.

“As alleged, the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars and Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vineet S. Jaain lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from U.S. and international investors,” said Breon Peace, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Adani, who heads the Adani Group, and Sagar have been indicted for their roles as executives of Adani Green Energy Ltd.

Reports said, meanwhile, that a US agency was re-examining its decision to lend over $550 million to a Sri Lankan port project backed by the Adani Group. The US International Development Finance Corp had agreed to provide $553m in financing for the port terminal project in Colombo, Sri Lanka, last November. The project is partly owned by the Adani Group.

Reports quoted an official from the agency as stating that they are “actively assessing the ramifications” of the allegations and are committed to ensuring their projects and partners maintain high standards of integrity and compliance. Reports said no funds have been disbursed under the loan commitment yet.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2024