Mumbai/New York: Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and nephew Sagar Adani have engaged top-tier US attorneys — including Donald Trump’s lawyer Robert Giuffra Jr. and former Mafia prosecutor — to defend against the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) fraud allegations tied to a bribery scandal. The high-profile hires signal the case advancing after procedural delays, with court filings confirming Giuffra’s role at Sullivan & Cromwell.
According to sources, Giuffra, co-chair of the elite firm and ex-clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist, represents Trump in overturning his 2024 conviction and has defended Volkswagen and Goldman Sachs in major litigations; Benchmark Litigation named him “Securities Litigator of the Year” in 2025. The team also includes a former federal prosecutor known for Mafia cases, bolstering defenses against claims of a $250 million (₹2,100 crore) bribery scheme misleading investors via Adani Green Energy bonds.
The SEC filed the civil suit in November 2024 in Brooklyn federal court, alleging the Adanis violated securities laws by hiding bribes to Indian officials for solar contracts, inflating bond offerings to US investors. Service stalled due to lack of Indian government aid; Giuffra contacted SEC to accept summons via email/US counsel, requesting time for talks while Adanis remain in India. US Judge Nicholas Garaufis eyes ruling soon on SEC’s service push.
Hiring signals readiness to contest merits, potentially negotiating amid Trump’s presidency possibly influencing SEC dynamics. Adani reps discussed summons tweaks with Indian officials; no comment from parties. The case links to stalled US DOJ criminal probe, with Hindenburg Research’s 2023 report amplifying scrutiny on Adani’s $80 billion empire.
