15 May,2026 12:08 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Rahul Gandhi. File pic
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of entering into a trade agreement with the United States to allegedly secure relief for businessman Gautam Adani in an ongoing legal case in the US.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Gandhi claimed that the Prime Minister had not signed a trade deal in India's national interest but had instead negotiated what he described as a bargain linked to Adani's "release."
The remarks came after reports emerged that the US government had agreed to settle a lawsuit involving allegations against Gautam Adani and others linked to the Adani Group.
The Congress party intensified its criticism of the Centre following the developments, alleging that the Modi government's recent diplomatic and trade decisions were influenced by efforts to protect the industrialist.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh also attacked the government over the reported settlement discussions.
Ramesh claimed the reports had clarified why the Prime Minister had agreed to what he termed a "one-sided" Indo-US trade deal that allegedly favoured the United States.
He further alleged that the government had compromised national interests and linked the issue to broader foreign policy decisions.
In a post on X, Ramesh questioned whether recent diplomatic developments, including the handling of Operation Sindoor in 2025, were influenced by pressure from US President Donald Trump.
The Congress leader alleged that the Trump administration was preparing to drop corruption-related charges involving the Adani case and questioned the government's conduct in the matter.
The controversy relates to a lawsuit filed in the United States in late 2024 involving allegations connected to the Adani Group's renewable energy business.
According to filings made by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, who serves as a director at Adani Green Energy, were accused of participating in an alleged bribery scheme between 2020 and 2024.
The lawsuit alleged that around USD 265 million in bribes were promised to Indian government officials to secure solar energy supply contracts expected to generate nearly USD 2 billion in profits over two decades.
The SEC further alleged that the group raised approximately USD 2 billion through loans and bonds, including funding from American investors, while allegedly making misleading statements regarding anti-bribery compliance and corporate governance practices.
The Adani Group has consistently denied all allegations made in the US lawsuit and has maintained that its businesses operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The group has previously described the accusations as baseless and said it would contest the claims through legal channels.
There has been no official response so far from the Prime Minister's Office or the BJP regarding the latest allegations made by Congress leaders.
The issue has once again triggered a major political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress party, with opposition leaders repeatedly accusing the government of favouring certain corporate groups.
The ruling BJP has consistently rejected such allegations and accused the opposition of making politically motivated claims without evidence.
The latest controversy comes at a time when the government is already facing criticism from opposition parties over fuel price hikes, economic concerns and developments linked to India's foreign policy and trade relations with major global powers.
