The Adani Group has pledged a $10 billion investment in United States infrastructure and energy projects, aimed at creating 15,000 jobs. This commitment followed the resolution of legal disputes with US authorities, including major regulatory settlements. The administration of United States President Donald Trump has moved to dismiss criminal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in a case where he is accused of bribing Indian officials for as much as $265m to secure contracts and lying to US investors to land a solar energy project in India, allegations that his company has long denied. Now it is the turn of the other industrialist. The Ambanis’ investment coincided with the family’s securing major US policy wins that their company, Reliance Industries, had been lobbying for. “Reliance goes from Trump foe to friend with refinery pledge,” ran the Bloomberg headline after the deal was announced. Reliance’s intent with the deal was to “smooth out” tensions between the US and India, the outlet reported. Money talks everywhere in this world.
VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim
