A US judge on Monday dismissed criminal fraud and bribery charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani after the Justice Department decided to end its prosecution. Brooklyn-based US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis granted federal prosecutors’ request to dismiss the case, after questioning the reasons behind the decision.

The judge had directly asked Adani whether any promises had been made in exchange for the case being dropped. Adani denied being aware of any such arrangement.

“I welcome the US court’s decision with humility and deep respect for the judicial process,” Adani wrote on X after the dismissal. “Throughout this challenging period, our faith in truth, fairness and the rule of law remained unwavering. My deepest gratitude to those who never lost faith in us, in the system and in India’s capacity for justice. We will continue doing what matters: building for our nation, creating value that outlasts us and serving a purpose larger than ourselves,” he added.

The charges, brought in 2024, alleged that Adani had agreed to bribe Indian government officials to secure approval for an Adani Group subsidiary to build a solar energy project. US prosecutors also alleged that he subsequently misled American investors by making false assurances about the company’s anti-corruption policies.

The Adani Group has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

The Justice Department announced on 18 May that it would no longer pursue the prosecution. Although US judges must approve the formal dismissal of criminal charges, legal experts say they have limited authority to force prosecutors to continue cases they no longer wish to pursue.

Judge Garaufis had nevertheless sought more details from the Justice Department, saying its initial explanation was “bland and conclusory” and did not provide enough information about why the case was being abandoned.

In a court filing on 4 July, Trent McCotter, a senior Justice Department official, said the prosecution was primarily foreign, difficult to prove and no longer aligned with the department’s priorities.

McCotter also rejected media reports suggesting that the decision was partly connected to Adani’s commitment to invest $10bn in the US.

In November 2024, before the indictment was unsealed, Adani had committed to investing $10bn in the United States.

Judge Garaufis subsequently asked Adani whether he was “aware of any agreement exchanging anything for the dismissal of the indictment.”

In a sworn declaration filed on 15 July, Adani said he was not aware of any such agreement.

Adani acknowledged his previous pledge to invest $10bn in the US. He said his lawyers had told Justice Department officials during meetings that the commitment “might be part of a resolution of these matters”.

However, Robert Giuffra, a lawyer representing Adani, said in a court filing on 15 July that the Justice Department had told him it would not consider the Adani Group’s willingness to invest in the US as part of any resolution.

The dismissal is the latest high-profile white-collar prosecution to be abandoned by federal prosecutors during President Donald Trump’s second term.