Judge Partly Blocks DOJ Bid To Drop Gautam Adani Bribery Case
On Monday, August 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis dismissed criminal fraud charges against billionaire Gautam Adani but left two counts in place for five co-defendants.[1]
Garaufis sharply criticized Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter, saying McCotter appeared to override career prosecutors and rely heavily on defense counsel in the decision to seek dismissal.[1] Two career prosecutors withdrew after the government's May motion to dismiss, and only political appointees signed the filing seeking to toss the indictment.[1]
The Department of Justice's May motion followed meetings in which Adani's lawyers told officials the Trump administration would not have brought the case.[1] Those lawyers also suggested Adani would invest $10 billion in the United States if the charges were dropped.[1]
Garaufis held that under Rule 48(a) the government must provide a factual basis for dismissal and found the DOJ's explanation inadequate for the two remaining counts, leaving those charges to proceed.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, August 10, 2026, Judge Nicholas Garaufis dismissed criminal fraud charges against Gautam Adani but left two counts in place for five co-defendants.
- Garaufis criticized principal associate deputy attorney general Trent McCotter, saying he appeared to override career officials and rely heavily on defense counsel in deciding to drop the case.
- The DOJ’s May motion to dismiss followed meetings where Adani’s lawyers argued the Trump administration would not have brought the case and suggested Adani would invest $10 billion in the U.S. if charges were dropped.
- Two career prosecutors withdrew from the case after the dismissal motion, and only political appointees signed the filing seeking to toss the indictment.
- Garaufis held that under Rule 48(a) the government must provide a factual basis for dismissal and found DOJ’s explanation inadequate for two remaining counts.
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