Adani-DOJ Case: US Lawyers reveal details as judge seeks reason for dropping charges against Adani

Jun 29, 2026

June 29, 2026 : ANI: New York (US) and Naxos (Greece): The US District Court's order seeking further clarification from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding its motion to dismiss the indictment against Adani and others is a "fairly routine" procedural requirement where the court holds a highly restricted role, according to a prominent US legal expert. In an interview with ANI, Benjamin A. Gianforti, a US-based lawyer and Partner in the firm's Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group, explained that the government has moved to drop the case under Rule 48(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. He noted that the rule stipulates the government may, "with leave of court," dismiss an indictment. Gianforti highlighted that this specific phrasing is vital, as it contemplates that the court has at least some limited role in evaluating the government's underlying rationale for dropping the case. However, he clarified that this function is strictly circumscribed and is not an opportunity for the court to second-guess the prosecutor's decision or substitute its own wisdom for that of the Department of Justice. Also, a US-based legal expert has described Judge Nicholas Garaufis's recent order regarding the Department of Justice's (DOJ) motion to dismiss the indictment against the Adani Group as a routine procedural step, noting that such judicial oversight is standard practice rather than an indication of a major legal hurdle. Speaking with ANI, Chris Man, a partner at the prominent law firm Steptoe and a recognised leader in international white-collar and corporate defence, weighed in on the matter. With a distinguished track record of representing high-profile individuals, including Hunter Biden, and major corporations like Walmart in complex DOJ and SEC investigations, Chris Man is widely regarded as a significant legal voice on cross-border criminal and regulatory proceedings.