US SEC Seeks to Serve Summons to Gautam Adani via Email: Latest Updates

In a major development regarding the legal case in the United States, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked a federal court for special permission to serve legal summons to Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani through email. This move comes after the Indian government reportedly declined to assist in serving the notices through the standard diplomatic channels.

This news has created a stir in the business world, as it marks a significant escalation in the legal proceedings involving the Adani Group chairman. Here is a simple explanation of what has happened, why the US regulator is taking this step, and what it means for the Adani Group.

Why Does the US SEC Want to Use Email?

Usually, when a US court wants to send a legal notice (summons) to someone in another country, they use a formal international agreement called the Hague Convention. The US government sends the request to the Indian government, which then delivers it to the person.

However, the SEC has informed the New York court that this method has failed. According to the SEC filings:

• The Indian Ministry of Law and Justice allegedly rejected the request twice in the last 14 months.
• The reasons given for the rejection were procedural, such as a “missing official seal” or signature issues.
• The SEC claims these reasons are not valid under the treaty and believes that trying the diplomatic route again will not work.

As a result, the SEC is now asking the judge to allow them to send the summons directly to the Adani executives’ email addresses or to their lawyers in the US.

Background: What is the Case About?

This legal battle started in late 2024. The US authorities indicted (formally accused) Gautam Adani and others of being involved in an alleged $265 million (approx. ₹2,200 crore) bribery scheme.

• The Allegation: The US prosecutors claim that bribes were paid to Indian government officials to secure lucrative solar power contracts.
• The Fraud Charge: They also allege that the company misled US investors by claiming they had a strict anti-corruption policy while raising funds from American markets.

The Adani Group has strongly denied these charges from the beginning.

Read more: Parakram Diwas 2026

Adani Group’s Stance: “Baseless Allegations”

The Adani Group has consistently maintained that the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the SEC are incorrect.

• The company has called the charges “baseless” and stated that they comply with all laws.
• In official statements, they have promised to use “all possible legal recourse” to defend themselves and their chairman.
• Despite the legal noise, the group continues to focus on its business expansion. Just this week at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, the group outlined a massive investment plan of ₹6 lakh crore for India over the next decade.

What Happens Next?

If the US court grants permission to the SEC:

1. Official Delivery: An email to Gautam Adani or his lawyers will be considered “officially served.”
2. Legal Response: The Adani executives will have to formally respond to the charges in the US court.
3. Consequences: If they fail to respond after being served, the court could pass a “default judgment” against them, which could lead to heavy fines or other penalties.

For now, all eyes are on the New York court judge who will decide whether to allow the “service by email” request.

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