On Monday, US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis formally dismissed the criminal case against Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group. The decision followed a rare motion by the US Department of Justice to abandon the prosecution, which had accused the billionaire of involvement in a bribery and fraud scheme.

Before granting the request, Judge Garaufis conducted a procedural inquiry to ensure the dismissal was not the result of an improper agreement, specifically questioning whether any promises had been made to the defendant in exchange for dropping the charges. The Adani Group has consistently maintained its innocence throughout the legal proceedings, repeatedly denying any allegations of wrongdoing.

While the outcome is the same, the reporting on the process varies in detail. The Independent focuses primarily on the result and the company's denial of the allegations. In contrast, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) provides additional context regarding the judicial oversight involved, noting that the judge required prosecutors to justify their decision to drop the case before he would sign off on the dismissal. The case, which first gained public attention when charges were unsealed in November 2024, has now been officially closed by the court.