The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approached a US federal court seeking permission to serve legal summons directly by email to billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, after Indian authorities declined to assist the process twice over the past 14 months.
In a letter to the court , the SEC said India’s ministry of law and justice had refused its requests to serve summons under the Hague Convention, leaving the US regulator with no viable option other than alternative service.
According to the SEC, the case relates to charges filed around 14 months ago against Gautam and Sagar Adani in connection with a bond offering linked to Adani Green Energy Ltd. The SEC said the bond issue raised $750 million, of which $175 million came from US investors.
The bribery scheme: Between 2020 and 2024, Gautham Adani and others allegedly agreed to pay more than $250 million (approx. ₹2,100 crore) in bribes to Indian officials. These bribes were intended to persuade state governments to purchase solar power from the state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) at above-market rates.
Profitable contracts: The solar energy supply contracts were projected to generate more than $2 billion in profit over a 20-year period for Adani Green Energy.
Defrauding US investors: While the bribery scheme was active, the Adani Group raised over $3 billion in loans and bonds from international and US-based investors. Prosecutors allege the company made false and misleading statements about its anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies to secure this capital.
Obstruction of justice: The indictment also includes allegations of attempts to obstruct investigations by the FBI and the Department of Justice by deleting evidence and providing false information.
The SEC said it first sought India’s assistance in February 2025 through the Hague Convention, a treaty that allows legal documents to be served across borders through designated authorities.
In India, this role is handled by the Department of Legal Affairs under the ministry of law and justice.
The first request was returned in April 2025, with Indian authorities citing the absence of a signature or official seal. The SEC responded that the Hague Convention does not require either.
However, the ministry again declined the request in December 2025, stating that the SEC’s internal rules did not cover the summons in the Adani case.
Eight individuals were indicted in connection with the alleged bribery scheme. According to the indictment, Adani Green Energy raised nearly $2 billion from American and foreign investors by making false and misleading statements about its anti-corruption and anti-bribery practices.
The SEC is pursuing a civil case against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and former Adani Green Energy chief executive Vineet Jain, while the Department of Justice is handling the criminal probe.