Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, intensified his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following reports that US authorities might drop fraud charges against Gautam Adani, a billionaire industrialist. Gandhi accused Modi of compromising India's interests during negotiations for the interim India-US trade framework, suggesting that the Prime Minister secured a 'bargain' for Adani instead of a genuine trade deal. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh echoed this sentiment, labeling the trade arrangement as 'hopelessly one-sided'.

The allegations against Adani include a scheme to bribe Indian government officials for solar energy contracts, with claims that over $250 million was intended for bribes. The US indictment indicated that these contracts could generate more than $2 billion in profits. Amidst this, Adani's legal team, led by Robert J Giuffra Jr., a lawyer for former President Donald Trump, reportedly met with US Justice Department officials to argue that the evidence against Adani was insufficient. The outcome of these legal proceedings could significantly impact the Adani Group's operations in the US.