The U.S. Department of Justice has formally asked a federal court to dismiss criminal charges against Gautam Adani, an Indian billionaire accused of misleading U.S. and global investors while raising billions of dollars to finance a major solar energy project in India.

Adani, considered one of Asia’s richest individuals, allegedly promised to pay more than $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure lucrative contracts. He and his executives further raised money from investors by falsely claiming the company maintained strict anti-corruption policies — all while allegedly continuing the bribery scheme and later attempting to conceal the evidence, prosecutors alleged in 2024.

Despite the severity of the allegations, the Justice Department has requested the case be dismissed “with prejudice,” indicating that the charges would be permanently dropped and may not be brought again in the future, according to court records filed Monday. Adani Group has denied the allegations, calling them baseless.

“The Department of Justice has reviewed this case and has decided, in its prosecutorial discretion, not to devote further resources to these criminal charges against individual defendants,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

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The decision to drop the charges follows an announcement from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it moved for entry of final judgments by consent, subject to court approval, in a related lawsuit involving Adani. The proposed resolution would not require Gautam Adani or Sagar Adani to admit or deny the SEC’s allegations.

Beginning in 2020, Adani Green Energy Limited, led by Gautam Adani, secured a major contract to develop solar power projects in India.

However, some Indian state governments allegedly declined to purchase the electricity from the project due to high costs. 

As a result, Gautam Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, allegedly resorted to bribery, including promises of more than $250 million in payments to Indian officials, in order to secure power purchase agreements for the expensive solar energy.

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During the same period, the company required significant capital to finance the projects and raised approximately $750 million through bond sales to U.S. and global investors. 

Federal prosecutors alleged that Adani Green and related entities raised more than $3 billion through loans and bond offerings while making false and misleading statements about the company’s anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices.

Prosecutors added that, to attract investors, the company falsely portrayed itself as an industry leader in corporate governance with a strict “zero tolerance” policy on bribery.

When U.S. authorities, including the FBI and the SEC, began investigating the alleged corruption, several executives were accused by prosecutors of attempting to obstruct the inquiry by deleting emails and electronic messages, concealing information during internal investigations, and making false statements to federal agents.

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The case dismissal is contingent upon approval by Judge Nicholas Garaufis, according to the documents. 

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Oil prices slipped on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had delayed a planned military strike on Iran following requests from key Middle Eastern leaders, easing concerns over an immediate escalation that could put global crude supplies in greater jeopardy.

Trump said on Monday that he had put on hold a “scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow” after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Earlier in the day, Trump told the New York Post that Iran knows “what’s going to be happening soon,” though he did not provide further details.

Crude oil price on May 19

International benchmark Brent crude futures for July delivery dropped more than 2% to $109.15 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures fell 1.27% to $107.28 a barrel. Axios had earlier reported that Trump was considering renewed military action after Tehran’s latest proposal in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict failed to meet expectations.

Prior to his remarks on Truth Social, there had been little public indication that Washington was preparing imminent military action against Iran, a move that would likely have ended the fragile ceasefire reached on April 8.
Speaking later at a White House event, Trump said, “we were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow.” “I put it off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while,” he said, adding that “we’ve had very big discussions with Iran, and we’ll see what they amount to.”
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have flared up once again and, while the ceasefire technically remains intact, expectations of a quick reopening of Hormuz have weakened considerably.

What are experts saying?

Analysts at Morgan Stanley said the oil market is in “a race against time,” warning that the factors keeping crude prices from rising further may fade if the Strait of Hormuz remains shut into June.

Despite disruptions impacting nearly 1 billion barrels of oil supply, crude prices remain below the highs seen in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Analysts led by Martijn Rats said the market entered the current crisis with stronger supply buffers, while investors continue to expect that the strait will eventually reopen.

Morgan Stanley also said higher U.S. crude exports and softer Chinese imports have helped cushion the market from a deeper supply shock so far. However, the brokerage warned that a prolonged closure of Hormuz could once again tighten global supplies if disruptions continue beyond what China or the United States can absorb comfortably.
Haitong Futures said markets remain cautious and warned that the ceasefire may not hold for long. The brokerage added that stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran could trigger another round of escalation and push oil prices even higher.

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said earlier this month that disruptions to shipments through Hormuz could delay stability returning to oil markets until 2027, with around 100 million barrels of oil supply per week potentially affected.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Thailand leads Southeast Asia in NEV readiness, with 58% of consumers considering hybrid/electric vehicles. Infrastructure gaps, high brand-switching behaviour, and strong dealer trust characterise the market. Growing demand exists for connected vehicle technologies, with relatively low data-sharing concerns among Thai consumers.

Key Points

• Thailand leads Southeast Asia in NEV readiness, with 58% of consumers considering hybrid or electric vehicles, driven by lower fuel costs and charging infrastructure, though a gap exists as 75% expect home charging but only 36% have access.

• Brand switching is high, with 64% planning to change brands for their next purchase, yet trust in authorised dealers remains dominant, with 81% using them for servicing and limited interest in direct-to-consumer models.

• Connected vehicle technology demand is growing, with 67% interested in AI customisation and strong willingness to pay for services like anti-theft tracking, while Thai consumers show relatively low concern about data sharing compared to regional peers.

Thailand Leads Southeast Asia in NEV Readiness

Consumer Demand and Infrastructure Gaps

Thailand is emerging as Southeast Asia’s most NEV-ready market, with 58% of consumers considering hybrid or electric vehicles — significantly above the regional average of 42.8%. Key purchase motivators include lower fuel costs, charging availability, and longer driving range. However, a critical infrastructure gap remains: while 75% of prospective EV buyers expect home charging, only 36% currently have access. Thai consumers also prioritize affordable public charging, with 76% citing cost as a key factor, underscoring the urgent need for ecosystem-level solutions involving energy providers, developers, and urban planners.

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Brand Switching Reshapes a Competitive Market

High Switching Rates, Strong Dealer Loyalty

Thailand’s automotive market is increasingly competitive, with 38% of consumers having already switched brands and 64% intending to switch for their next purchase. Purchase decisions are driven by product quality, technology, and performance rather than brand loyalty alone. Despite this fluidity, trust in authorised dealers remains exceptionally strong, with 81% of respondents — the highest in Southeast Asia — choosing authorised service providers. Notably, only 53% expressed openness to direct-to-consumer online purchasing, the lowest regionally, highlighting the continued importance of established dealership relationships in shaping consumer confidence.

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Connected Technologies Define Thailand’s Automotive Future

Digital Adoption with Measured Data Concerns

Thai consumers are rapidly embracing connected vehicle technologies, with 67% interested in AI-enabled customisation features. Willingness to pay extends to services such as anti-theft tracking (84%), emergency assistance (80%), and usage-based insurance (74%). Importantly, Thai consumers demonstrate relatively lower concern about data sharing compared to regional peers — a factor that may accelerate digital adoption. As the market evolves, automotive players must integrate technology, trust-based relationships, and seamless ownership experiences to successfully navigate Thailand’s next phase of transformation and capture long-term consumer loyalty.

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