Mumbai: Adani Group on Monday cautioned mediapersons and influencers that “multiple fraudulent press releases” about it are in circulation and they should check official press releases on its sites before filing or broadcasting any report.
“Certain vested interests with malicious intent are circulating multiple fraudulent press releases, including one titled “Adani Group Denounces Baseless Accusations and Threat”, related to our presence in Kenya,” the statement said.
Neither Adani Group nor any of its group companies have issued any press releases about Kenya, the statement further said.
“We strongly condemn this deceitful act and urge everyone to disregard these fake fraudulent releases completely. We will take legal action against anyone involved in spreading false narratives,” it added.
In the fake release, which went viral on social media, the company allegedly threatened Kenyan protestors demonstrating against the proposed handover of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Adani Group. “…such actions could have serious consequences. If these threats persist, we will have no choice but to reveal the names of government shareholders who have benefited from our investments. Additionally, we will also publish the names of individuals who have received substantial bribes from our company,” India Today reported, citing the viral letter.
It added that the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Keraco transmission lines projects were awarded to them by Kenyan government through vigorous transparent bidding process, and were not self-awarded. “The allegations are false and defamatory.”
This so-called press release, dated September 10, 2024, featured the signature of Krishna Dutt Tiwari, the Adani Energy Solutions Limited country manager in Kenya.
Discrepancy in the date format and inconsistent paragraph breaks throughout the statement, pointing to it being forged, the report added.
Notably, Kenyan government had proposed leasing the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Adani Group for 30 years. A Kenyan High Court, however, issued a suspension on a $1.85 billion agreement on September 10 and a day later hundreds of workers at Nairobi‘s JKIA went on strike against this takeover.
According to a Bloomberg report, a legal challenge has been filed against the government of Kenya regarding the leasing of JKIA to Adani Airport. The Kenya Human Rights Commission, along with the lawyers’ body, has dubbed the move as unconstitutional.