Set up an independent inquiry into possible instances of improprieties committed by Adani group in India

The outcome of the reported meeting of the Adani representatives with the US officials should not be allowed to come in the way of the Central Government setting up an independent inquiry into possible instances of improprieties committed in India

To
Shri T V Somanathan

Cabinet Secretary

Government of India

Dear Shri Somanathan,

I refer to my letter of 6th December, 2024 addressed to you and an earlier letter of 23rd November 2024 addressed to the Finance Minister, calling for setting up an independent judicial commission to enquire into the respective roles of the Central agencies, especially the Ministry of Power (MOP), SECI, CERC, State Regulatory Commissions, SEBI and CBI, for their deliberate acts of omission/ commission, causing a huge loss to millions of electricity consumers across the country, tax-payers and investors, when public functionaries at the Centre and in the States connived with the Adani and Azure Groups to allow those groups to profiteer at the cost of the people.

It has been reported that the Adani Group’s representatives have recently met officials of the US administration (https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/adani-representatives-meet-trump-officials-in-push-to-end-us-bribery-cases/article69539928.ece–) “to seek dismissal of the criminal charges against him in an overseas bribery probe“. I am not sure whether the government is aware of the above development.

Irrespective of the outcome of the reported meeting between Adani Group”s representatives and the US officials, the acts of impropriety and malfeasance, if any, committed by Indian and overseas agencies and Indian political leaders in India cannot be summarily brushed aside, as they involve serious public interest concerns. 

Evidently, the US Security Exchange Commission (SEC) has already investigated the matter and is in possession of valuable information on improprieties committed in the matter in India.It is reported that the SEC has requested the Indian authorities to serve summons on the concerned in India and it appears that the Centre has processed the SEC summons for appropriate action(https://www.outlookbusiness.com/corporate/trouble-for-gautam-adani-modi-govt-forwards-sec-summons-to-ahmedabad-court). I am sure that the concerned authorities are pursuing the matter further in accordance with the relevant international treaties and agreements.

Keeping in view the far reaching public interest implications for India of the overseas investigation into this case, I demand that the Centre loses no further time in commissioning an independent inquiry, which should ensure that the domestic regulatory/ investigating agencies, namely, the SEBI and the CBI contact their counterparts in the USA, namely, the SEC and the FBI for the relevant evidence and pursue action urgently.

It is unfortunate that, though I had demanded the commissioning of such an independent inquiry around five months ago, the Centre Has chosen not to respond meaningfully, suggesting deliberate inaction and possible connivance.

May I once again demand urgent action in the matter?

Regards,

Yours sincerely,

EA S Sarma

Former Secretary to the Government of India

Visakhapatnam