US regulator moves to directly serve Adani summons amid India procedural standoff

New Delhi – The United States securities regulator has asked a federal court for permission to bypass Indian authorities and directly serve legal summons to billionaire Gautam Adani and senior group executive Sagar Adani, escalating one of the most high-profile legal disputes involving an Indian conglomerate. The move follows repeated refusals by Indian officials to assist in delivering the summons, citing procedural issues.

Court filings show the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission believes the traditional route of cooperation through India’s law ministry is unlikely to succeed. As a result, the regulator has sought approval to send the summons via email, arguing that international treaties allow such service when other methods have failed.

The case centres on allegations of securities fraud and a $265 million bribery scheme linked to Adani Green Energy, a key unit of the Adani Group. The U.S. regulator alleges that senior executives were involved in efforts to bribe Indian officials to secure electricity purchase agreements, while also misleading U.S. investors about the company’s compliance and anti-corruption practices.

Indian authorities have previously declined two requests from the SEC to serve the summons, pointing to technical deficiencies such as documentation requirements and formal seals. The regulator, however, has argued in court that these objections are not valid under the Hague Convention, which governs cross-border legal service in civil and commercial matters.

In its latest filing, the SEC said it does not expect service to be completed through the existing diplomatic channel. It asked the court to permit direct electronic service, stating that continued delays could undermine enforcement of U.S. securities laws in cases involving foreign executives and global capital markets.

The Adani Group has strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and unfounded. It has said it will pursue all available legal remedies to defend itself and its executives. The group has previously argued that the accusations misrepresent facts and ignore the company’s internal governance and compliance systems.

This case has drawn particular attention because of the Adani Group’s size and influence, both in India and internationally. The conglomerate operates across sectors including energy, ports, infrastructure and logistics, and has attracted significant foreign investment. Any legal action involving its top leadership therefore carries broader implications for investor confidence and regulatory scrutiny.

India’s law ministry has previously described the dispute as a legal matter between private parties and the United States, distancing itself from the substance of the allegations. However, the SEC’s move to seek direct service raises questions about how cross-border enforcement actions may proceed when governments decline to cooperate.

Legal experts note that while courts sometimes allow alternative service methods, such steps are often controversial and can become points of contention in later proceedings. Defendants may argue that service was improper or violated principles of sovereignty, potentially complicating the case further.

The indictment against the Adani executives was unsealed in late 2024 and marked the most significant U.S. enforcement action ever brought against an Indian business group. Since then, the case has been closely watched by regulators, investors and policymakers in both countries.

The outcome of the SEC’s request could set an important precedent for how U.S. regulators pursue cases involving foreign nationals when cooperation from local authorities is limited. It may also influence how multinational companies assess legal and regulatory risks tied to overseas listings and global fundraising.

As the court considers the request, the dispute underscores growing tensions between national legal systems in an increasingly interconnected financial world. For now, attention remains on whether the SEC will be allowed to proceed directly, and how the Adani Group will respond if the summons are successfully delivered.