New Delhi : After US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and others in an alleged bribery scam, BJP MP Sambit Patra on Thursday said that the company will defend itself on its own and the law will take its own course.
Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Sambit Patra said, "Today, since morning, we have been seeing in the media an issue regarding a company. There is a case against that company in the US. There are allegations and counter-allegations. We clearly believe that as far as the company and the case against it are concerned, the company will issue a statement and defend itself on its own. Law will take its own course...
BJP MP Patra further lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and accused him of "sensationalizing things." Patra remarked that Rahul Gandhi, in the same way has raised allegations about the Rafael deal and during Covid-19 time-period, but at the end, he had to apologise.
Patra said, "Today, Rahul Gandhi has done a press conference again. Today, he has again showed same behaviour and presented the topic in the same way he used to present. This isn't a new PC. He has used same names and same ways through which he tried to put a new allegation of PM Modi.
He always tries to sensationalize things and describe it in the way that how big the matter is. He did same before 2019, where he raised the issue of Rafael fighter planes, he had claimed that a big revelation will be made, this topic has geared a momentum in whole world, 'Chowidar Chor Hai', etc... During the Covid 19, he used to do press conferneces in the same way, but at the end, he has to go to the Supreme Court and apologise... Its his way to attack the structure of India and the people who save it."
Referring to the documents, which are available in the public domain, Patra said that the dispute is about the agreement on electricity purchase with the State Distribution Companies (SDCs) of four states, dated from July 2021- February 2022.
"Because the documents are available in public domain, people have seen these documents, we have also seen the documents. The whole issue is about the agreement for the electricity purchase with the State Distribution Companies (SDCs). There are two companies, one Indian, one American and there are four Indian states involved in it. This whole matter was dated between July 2021- February 2022," he said.
He added that SDCs are owned by state governments and at that time, all these states were either ruled by Congress or its allies and not by BJP. Patra welcomed Rahul Gandhi's demand for investigation, saying that an investigation should be conducted against all those Chief Ministers who were ruling these states between the time period of July 2021- February 2022.
Patra stated, "SDCs are property of state government, among the four Indian states, one was Chhattisgarh, at that time it was ruled by Congress's Bhupesh Baghel, it is present in documents. Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of bribery.... These are all allegations. It wasn't BJP's or BJP's supported government. In Tamil Nadu, it was DMK's government, in Odisha, it was BJD's government. So, in all these 4 states, it wasn't BJP's or BJP's-supported government, rather it was Congress' and its allies' governments. If Rahul Gandhi has said he has not any objection, then an investigation should be conducted against Bhupesh Baghel and all other CMs of these states. We don't have any objection."
Earlier today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi called for Adani's arrest and said that it is "clear" and "established" that the Adani Group Chairman has broken both American and Indian laws.
"Wherever there is corruption, investigation should be done. But investigation will begin with Adani. Unless he is arrested, it won't be credible. So, begin it from there. Arrest Adani, interrogate him and then nab whoever is involved. In the end, Narendra Modi's name will come out because BJP's entire funding structure is in his hands. So, even if the PM wants, he can't do anything. In a way, Adani has hijacked the country. India is in Adani's grip," Rahul Gandhi said.
However, the Adani Group strongly refuted bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of the Adani Green as baseless. The Adani Group spokesperson in an official statement said all legal recourse will be taken.
"The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied," the statement read.
The group further highlighted a key aspect of the legal proceedings, noting, "As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, 'the charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.' All possible legal recourse will be sought."
Amid these allegations, Adani Green Energy also informed stock exchanges that its subsidiaries have decided to defer their planned US dollar-denominated bond offerings.
It said "In light of these developments, our subsidiaries have presently decided not to proceed with the proposed USD denominated bond offerings".
US prosecutors had charged Gautam Adani and others in an alleged Solar Energy contract bribery case. A five-count criminal indictment has been unsealed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charging prominent Indian executives including Chairman of the Adani Group Gautam Adani by linking them to an alleged bribery and fraud scheme.