A US federal court has permanently dismissed the criminal case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and seven other defendants, bringing to an end a high-profile prosecution that had accused senior executives of involvement in an alleged bribery and securities-fraud scheme.US District Judge Nicholas G Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York granted the Justice Department’s request to dismiss the indictment with prejudice. The ruling followed weeks of scrutiny by the judge over the government’s decision to abandon the prosecution.The case originated in an indictment unsealed in 2024. According to the original US court filing, prosecutors alleged that Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and others were involved in a scheme to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indian Government officials to secure solar energy contracts.Prosecutors also alleged that investors and financial institutions were misled about the company’s anti-corruption practices. The allegations were never tested at a criminal trial and the Adani Group has consistently denied any wrongdoing.The Justice Department’s move to abandon the prosecution came after Judge Garaufis initially declined to approve the dismissal, saying the government had not provided sufficient explanation for its decision. He subsequently sought a fuller account of the reasons and factual basis for ending the case.$10 bn investmentThe Adani Group had pledged $10 bn investment in the USThe court was satisfied the pledge didn’t influence caseAdani said his faith in the rule of law remained unwaveringIn its response, the Justice Department argued that the prosecution was predominantly foreign in nature, difficult to prove and no longer aligned with the department’s priorities.The judge also examined whether a $10-billion US investment commitment announced by Adani had any bearing on the decision to drop the criminal case. The US media reported that Garaufis ultimately said he was satisfied that the investment pledge had not influenced the government’s decision.The judge nevertheless expressed concern about the manner in which the dismissal process had been handled, including the involvement of senior Justice Department official Trent McCotter and the extent to which prosecutors and investigators who had worked on the case were consulted.Adani welcomed the court’s decision. “I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process,” he said in a post on X.He said that throughout what he described as a challenging period, his faith in “truth, fairness and the rule of law” had remained unwavering.Adani also thanked those who continued to have faith in him, the legal system and India’s capacity for justice. “My deepest gratitude to those who never lost faith in us, in the system and in India’s capacity for justice,” he said.The Adani Group chairman said the focus would now remain on what he described as its larger national commitment. “We will continue doing what matters: building for our nation, creating value that outlasts us and serving a purpose larger than ourselves. That is our commitment,” he said, ending his statement with “Jai Hind”.