Prime Minister Modi hand in glove with the indicted industrialist, says Congress leader
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has demanded the immediate arrest of industrialist Gautam Adani after his indictment in New York over his role in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme worth millions of dollars.
Hours after the US authorities charged Gautam Adani and seven of his associates for allegedly paying $250 million bribe to Indian officials, Gandhi said Adani should be arrested immediately and his ‘protector’ (Securities and Exchange Board of India chairperson) Madhabi Puri Buch should be probed.
The Congress leader was addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here on Thursday.
Launching a blistering attack on Narendra Modi, Gandhi said the prime minister was hand in glove with Gautam Adani in corruption. He said despite being involved in a Rs 2,000 crore scam and multiple other cheating cases, Gautam Adani was running scot-free as he was being protected by Modi.
Adani and seven other defendants, including his nephew Sagar Adani, were indicted in New York over his role in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme worth millions of dollars. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleges that Adani agreed to pay about $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials to obtain contracts expected to yield $2 billion of profit over 20 years. Adani falsely claimed anti-corruption efforts, deceiving US investors, during a September 2021 offering by Adani Green that raised $750 million, including $175 million from US investors.
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Ek hain to safe hain’ slogan, Gandhi said that as long as the prime minister and Adani are together, they are safe in India.
“It is now pretty clear and established in America that Adani has broken both American law and Indian law. He has been indicted in the United States and I am wondering why Mr Adani is still running around a free man in this country?” he questioned.
Gandhi further said he will raise the issue during the winter session of Parliament beginning Monday.
He also said the demand of the opposition for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe stands.
“I can guarantee that Adani won’t be arrested or investigated in India because the Modi government was protecting him,” Rahul Gandhi alleged.
He said investigations should cover all states, irrespective of which party was in power. – With inputs from Agencies