The Indian government has asked a local court to serve a summons issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to billionaire Gautam Adani. The summons is related to alleged securities fraud and a $265 million bribery scheme. This request was made through a letter reviewed by Reuters.
Under the Hague Service Convention, which prevents direct delivery of legal documents to defendants in India, the summons requires Adani or his legal representatives to appear in a U.S. court. Indian lawyers explained that this would involve a court appearance in New York.
Adani Group has denied the accusations, calling them “baseless” and pledging to explore “all possible legal recourse.”
India’s Ministry of Law has instructed a district court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Adani’s home state, to deliver the summons. The letter, dated February 25, states that the summons is for Adani’s appearance in a New York court. According to Arshdeep Khurana, a criminal lawyer in India, “If service is effected through the Indian court, the respondents will have to appear.”
Neither Adani nor India’s Ministry of Law has responded to requests for comment.
The summons does not suggest a risk of extradition for Adani, who runs a large conglomerate with interests in sectors like airport construction and media. “Extradition proceedings would only begin if the U.S. court issues arrest warrants,” explained Malak Bhatt, founding partner at NM Law Chambers.
Reuters reported on February 18 that the SEC had been trying to serve its complaint to Gautam Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, and had sought India’s help. It remains unclear whether the summons for Sagar Adani has been processed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated last month that he did not discuss the Adani case with U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington.
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