India’s Supreme Court delivered a significant verdict, stating that the Adani Group does not need to undergo additional investigations beyond the ongoing scrutiny by the market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). This decision comes as a relief for the conglomerate, which faced allegations of wrongdoing from the United States-based short-seller Hindenburg Research.
SEBI had been investigating the Adani Group, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, following Hindenburg’s January 2023 claims of improper use of tax havens and stock manipulation. Despite the Adani Group’s denial of these allegations, the Hindenburg report led to a substantial $150 billion reduction in its stock market value.
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Although the Adani Group regained some investor confidence in recent months, the lingering impact of the Hindenburg report and regulatory scrutiny continued to affect the conglomerate’s business dealings and reputation.
Supreme Court Verdict and Response
In response to cases brought by public interest litigants seeking a special investigation team, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that “the facts of this case do not warrant” additional investigations beyond SEBI’s ongoing inquiry. The court, emphasizing its authority to transfer investigations, signaled that there would be no heightened regulatory or legal risk on the Adani Group beyond the existing SEBI probe.
Following the verdict, shares of various Adani Group companies experienced an upswing. Adani Energy Solutions saw a notable 9.1 percent increase, Adani Total Gas surged by 7.1 percent, Adani Green Energy jumped 5.5 percent, and the flagship business Adani Enterprises rose by 2.6 percent, according to Reuters.
After the Supreme Court ruling, Gautam Adani expressed his satisfaction on X, stating that the judgment signifies the triumph of truth, and the Adani Group’s “contribution to India’s growth story will continue.”
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Analysts believe that the court’s decision will likely boost global investor confidence in the company’s shares. While the verdict offers relief to the Adani Group, it still faces challenges, including political opposition to its redevelopment plans for Dharavi, one of Asia’s largest slums in Mumbai, and a federal investigation into alleged over-invoicing of coal imports.
The court also emphasized that it does not need to intervene in the current regulations governing offshore investors of Indian companies, supporting SEBI’s regulatory position. This comes after Hindenburg alleged that Adani’s offshore shareholders were used to violate certain SEBI rules.
SEBI has been given three months by the Supreme Court to conclude its investigations into the Adani Group. The court’s ruling is seen as positive for the group from both legal and political perspectives. As the conglomerate gradually regains investor and lender confidence, attention is shifting toward corporate governance, earnings, and valuations. The decision marks a significant development in a year-long saga triggered by Hindenburg’s allegations, providing clarity on the regulatory and legal outlook for the Adani Group.