India Yet To Serve Adani Summons As SEC Pushes Forward

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The United States Securities And Exchange Commission Has Filed A Status Report Confirming That Indian Authorities Have Not Yet Served Legal Documents To Gautam Adani And Sagar Adani. Despite Persistent Efforts And Communications With India’s Law Ministry, The SEC Continues Pursuing Service Under The Hague Convention.

Legal service delays stall SEC’s bribery case

Nearly nine months after filing a high-profile bribery lawsuit, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remains unable to serve summons and complaints to Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani. The SEC’s latest status report, submitted to Magistrate Judge James R. Cho in the Eastern District of New York on August 11, 2025, outlines its ongoing struggle to effect service through India’s Ministry of Law and Justice.

The case, filed on November 20, 2024, accuses the Adani executives of violating federal securities laws in connection with a $265 million bribery scheme involving renewable energy contracts. The SEC’s inability to serve the defendants has delayed progress in the litigation, raising concerns about international cooperation in cross-border enforcement.

Efforts under the Hague Service Convention

The SEC is relying on the Hague Service Convention, a treaty that facilitates the delivery of legal documents across borders. Under Article 5(a), the SEC submitted its request to India’s Ministry of Law and Justice, which acts as the central authority responsible for executing service. However, despite repeated follow-ups—including one as recently as September 14, 2025—Indian authorities have not yet confirmed service.

Key developments from the status report

- The SEC first filed its complaint on November 20, 2024, alleging bribery and securities violations.
- The defendants named are Gautam Adani, founder of Adani Group, and Sagar Adani, his nephew.
- The SEC has made multiple formal requests to India’s Ministry of Law and Justice.
- The most recent communication occurred on September 14, 2025.
- The SEC reaffirmed its intent to continue pursuing service through legal and diplomatic channels.

What’s next for the case?

The delay in serving legal documents could prolong the resolution of the case, which has drawn global attention due to the prominence of the Adani Group. The SEC’s persistence highlights the complexities of international legal cooperation and the challenges regulators face when foreign authorities are slow to act.

Sources: Financial Express, Yahoo Finance, Moneylife