US regulator takes legal route to serve summons on Indian billionaire – Reuters

The SEC has reportedly said that India has refused to serve a notice to Gautam Adani over an alleged $265 million bribery scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought US court approval to email a summons to Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and group executive Sagar Adani over alleged fraud and a $265 million bribery scheme, Reuters reported on Thursday.

The case relates to charges against the billionaire and his nephew, Sagar, alleging that they had paid bribes to obtain power supply contracts. They have also been charged with misleading US investors during a bond sale to raise funds.

The SEC has said in court that India has previously refused two requests to serve the summons, according to the Reuters report.

The regulator told a New York court that it had sought help from India’s law ministry to serve the summons.

The Adani Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates, has denied the charges and said that it would seek “all possible legal recourse” to defend itself.

The SEC submission said it “does not expect service to be completed” through the current route and sought permission to directly email the summons to the Adani group executives, according to the report.

In November, 2024, the Indian law ministry described the case as a legal issue between private firms and the United States.

In June, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a different probe into the Adani Group, alleging potential violations of US sanctions targeting Iran, according to media reports.

The DOJ investigation pertains to alleged imports of Iranian liquified petroleum gas into India through Adani’s Mundra port, located in the western state of Gujarat.