In a fresh attack on billionaire businessman Gautam Adani, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, called for his immediate arrest following an indictment by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over alleged bribery. The charges accuse Adani and others of engaging in a scheme to bribe Indian officials to secure favourable terms for solar power projects, thus defrauding US investors.

Gandhi, who has long demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into alleged irregularities involving the Adani Group, also called for the removal of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch. He accused Buch of protecting Adani and failing to take action in the matter.

Addressing the media at the Congress party headquarters, Gandhi said, “It’s now pretty clear and established in America that Adani has broken both American law and Indian law. He has been indicted in the US. I am wondering why Adani is still running around a free man in this country, despite being accused of a Rs 2,000 crore scam and multiple others.”

He further pointed to the arrests of chief ministers from non-BJP states by central probe agencies, adding, “Chief Ministers were arrested. But Adani is scot-free. There is no investigation. We have been raising this again and again.” Gandhi urged, “Adani should be arrested immediately. Madhabi Buch, who is his protector, should be removed (as the SEBI chief). There should be a probe against her.”

In an apparent jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "ek hain, toh safe hain" slogan, Gandhi said, “In India, if Adani and Modi are together, then they are safe. Nothing can be done to Adani in India.” He added, “Adani has committed a scam of Rs 2,000 crore. But, Adani will neither be arrested nor will there be any investigation because Prime Minister Modi is associated with Adani. He is protecting Adani.”

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a veiled attack, said, “When a top-ranking Indian businessman is indicted by a foreign country, it tarnishes our image at the global stage.” He also reiterated Congress's stance against “unethical” business practices that concentrate wealth in the hands of a few, alleging that PM Modi's government had created monopolies by favouring select individuals like Adani. Kharge called for a comprehensive investigation into the "vicious nexus" between crony capitalists, compromised bureaucrats, and certain politicians.

In response, the Adani Group vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that all possible legal recourse would be pursued to challenge the indictment.

The BJP, however, has come out strongly in defence of Adani. BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya raised questions about the timing of the indictment, suggesting it had political motives. He noted, “The timing of the report, just before the Parliament session and Donald Trump’s impending Presidency, raises several questions.” Malviya also criticised the Congress, claiming that it was using the case to further its political narrative.

Malviya highlighted that the charges stem from a power supply agreement between Adani Green Energy and Azure Power, a US firm. He claimed that the bribes alleged in the indictment were paid by the Adani Group and Azure Power to state electricity distribution companies in opposition-ruled states, including Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh, in 2021-2022.

Referring to these allegations, Malviya said, “Before you pontificate, answer on the bribes the Congress and its allies accepted.”

While the US authorities allege that Adani was involved in securities and wire fraud, the BJP insists that the case should be dealt with by the Adani Group through legal means. Malviya also dismissed the Congress's demand for a JPC, stating that the charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The BJP also responded to Rahul Gandhi’s comments on Prime Minister Modi by accusing the opposition of trying to tarnish his reputation. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that Gandhi’s attacks were part of a larger effort to undermine Modi’s leadership. He pointed out that no allegations in the indictment were directed at BJP-ruled states.

Patra further criticized Gandhi’s claims about Modi's supposed protection of Adani, stating, “Rahul Gandhi, his mother Sonia Gandhi, and the Congress have been trying to tarnish Modi’s image, but they have not succeeded. The prime minister received the highest civilian award in a foreign country on a day the opposition party was attacking him.”

Patra also questioned Gandhi’s understanding of legal processes and accused him of relying too much on advisors who were prompting him to undermine Modi. As the Winter session of Parliament approaches, Patra warned that Gandhi would attempt to create a "drama" and disrupt proceedings to further target the economy. “The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha will now start a 'drama' when Parliament’s Winter session begins from November 25,” he said.

As the political battle over the Adani indictment intensifies, both the Congress and the BJP continue to accuse each other of using the issue for political gain, while the Adani Group prepares to challenge the charges in court.