Time to end US overreach: Norwegian diplomat slams Adani indictment

'It is time the world starts asking when American overreach will stop? Lets turn the table for a second and assume that an Indian Court charged top American business executives for crimes allegedly done in the US. Would this be acceptable to America?, the diplomat wrote.

The indictment of executives of the Adani Group by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the subsequent response by the conglomerate has spiralled into a full-blown political issue in India, and has attracted considerable attention from the media, domestic and international alike.

Now, a Norwegian diplomat has come forward, slamming what he described as a case of "American overreach".

Erik Solheim, the former UN Environment Programme Executive Director, took to social media platform X to let his thoughts be known.

Commenting on the indictment, Solheim wrote, "The last week global media have been full of stories about the indictment against the Adani Group by an American Prosecutor."

"It is time the world starts asking when American overreach will stop? Lets turn the table for a second and assume that an Indian Court charged top American business executives for crimes allegedly done in the US. Would this be acceptable to America? Would American media find it appropriate?," he questioned.

"Added it is now clear that the accusations are not against the top Adani leaders, Gautam and Sagar Adani. Nor is there evidence that bribes were paid by Adani executives to Indian government officials. The indictment solely rest on claims that bribes were promised or discussed," the diplomat charged.

"This American overreach has serious consequences for peoples lifes. It makes it harder for one of Indias economic power houses to finance its operations. It forces the Adani Group to spend time and resources in court rather than building solar and wind plants. It simply slows down the green transformation of India," Solheim said.

"Its time to put a stop to American overreach!," the diplomat concluded.

A day earlier, Adani Green had refuted the bribery charges against billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar.

In a stock exchange filing, Adani Green Energy Ltd -- which is at the centre of the bribery allegations -- said reports saying the three have been charged with FCPA violations "are incorrect".

"Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DOJ or civil complaint of the US SEC. "These directors have been charged on three counts in the criminal indictment namely (i) alleged securities fraud conspiracy, (ii) alleged wire fraud conspiracy, and (iii) alleged securities fraud," the firm said.

Following Adani Green's statement on Wednesday, Adani Group shares had closed on a high.

Shares of the conglomerate rallied again on Thursday as well.

(With PTI inputs)