Adani Under the Microscope: US Justice Department Probes Sanctions, Bribery, and Tanker Secrets

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and his conglomerate have come under intense scrutiny from US prosecutors, who are investigating whether Adani’s companies violated US sanctions on Iran and engaged in a far-reaching bribery scheme. The probe, led by the US Department of Justice and the SEC, has widened to include potential manipulation of LPG tanker activities, with investigators uncovering discrepancies in ship locations and possible tampering with Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.

 

Key Highlights:

 

The US Justice Department is examining whether Adani Group entities facilitated the transport of Iranian petroleum products, potentially breaching US sanctions. This comes amid a broader crackdown on companies worldwide accused of helping Iran evade restrictions through shadow fleets and deceptive shipping practices.

 

Investigators have detected suspicious patterns in the AIS data of vessels linked to Adani’s network, including false location signals and “dark” ship-to-ship transfers—classic hallmarks of sanctions evasion. Such tactics are commonly used to disguise the origin of Iranian oil and obscure the true movements of tankers.

 

Parallel to the sanctions probe, Adani and several top executives, including his nephew Sagar Adani, face indictments in the US on charges of bribery and fraud. Prosecutors allege the group paid over $250 million in bribes to secure lucrative energy contracts in India and misled US investors about their anti-corruption compliance during major bond offerings.

 

The Adani Group has denied all allegations, calling them “baseless” and vowing to pursue all legal remedies. Despite the mounting legal challenges, Adani’s representatives are actively lobbying US officials, seeking to align their defense with broader economic and diplomatic interests.

 

The investigation has significant geopolitical implications, as it unfolds against the backdrop of major India-US defense deals and growing calls for accountability in international business practices.

 

Sources: The Wire, Business Standard, Lloyd’s List