Kathmandu. A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed a bribery and fraud case against billionaire Gautam Adani. Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis of Brooklyn granted the prosecutors’ request after the Trump administration decided not to proceed with prosecutions.

According to court records, prosecutors had in May 2024 asked for the dismissal of charges that Adani was involved in a scheme to bribe Indian officials with $265 million to secure lucrative solar power supply contracts. Judge Garaufis formally approved the request.

Although the U.S. Department of Justice has decided to dismiss the case, Judge Garaufis expressed dissatisfaction with the process. He called it “unusual” that the Trump administration’s deputy associate attorney general, Trent McCotter, did not consult with investigators and prosecutors in his decision to dismiss the case.

“It was highly unusual for McKotter to reach a decision in cooperation with defense attorneys and to have not obtained the necessary information from FBI and US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officials and prosecutors investigating the alleged crime,” Garaufis said in court order.

Earlier, US media reported that Adani was willing to invest $10 billion in the US economy if the charges were dropped with Justice Department officials in April.

“Our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remains unwavering during challenging times,” he added. The Adani Group is one of the largest business groups in India. The group has been operating in various sectors including ports, power projects, cement factories, energy and media.

Adani, one of India’s richest industrialists, has been at the centre of a controversy in recent years over allegations of corporate fraud and a sharp drop in the company’s share price. He is also a close aide of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hails from his home state Gujarat.

Adani has also been a vocal supporter of President Trump on social media. With the latest decision of the US court, the criminal trial against him in the US has officially ended.