No Request From US Authorities Was Received Over Bribery Charges Against Adani: Ministry Of External Affairs

The Ministry of External Af fairs on Friday said that it has received no request from US authorities about the arrest warrant issued against industrialist Gautam Adani over bribery charges. The remarks eame amid reports of an indictment against Gautam Adani by the US Department of Justice, This was the first official reaction from India after the industrialist was charged with alleged fraud by prosecutors in the United States.

The MEA, in an official statement, further said that the government has no role in the legal proceedings involving Adani-linked entities in the United States. “This is a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing, "The government of India was not informed in advance on the issue. We have not had any conversation with the US government on it,” he added. He further said that “established procedures and legal avenues” would be followed in such cases.

For any legal action to be taken within India, including the execution of an arrest warrant, US authorities are required to notify the Ministry of Home Affairs in India. The Home Ministry can then direct relevant federal agencies to act upon the request. The US authorities, if they seek to bring Adani to the US to face charges, are expected to invoke the India-US extradition treaty. Under the treaty, the US must provide evidence linking the alleged actions to violations of American law and demonstrate their jurisdictional impact. (Input India Today).