Will assess, act on alleged Jagan Reddy-Adani bribery link: Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday addressed the US allegations of bribery involving the Adani Group and the erstwhile YS Jagan Mohan Reddy regime, saying his government will “assess the situation” and take action based on the evidence.
The allegations stem from court filings by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which claim that industrialist Gautam Adani met Jagan Mohan Reddy in August 2021 after Andhra Pradesh did not sign a power supply agreement with the government-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
The SEC alleged that “incentives” were discussed during the meeting, with Adani reportedly offering or promising bribes to secure the deal. Soon after, Andhra Pradesh agreed to buy 7 gigawatts of solar power, the largest amount in any state in the country.
In his remarks in the state assembly, Naidu called the allegations damaging to Andhra Pradesh’s reputation and vowed to take necessary steps as more information emerges.
“More facts are yet to come to light. The government is also thinking about what steps to take as facts are being unravelled as we speak. We will take stock of the situation, see what needs to be done, and will take action accordingly,” Naidu said.
The Chief Minister stated that the government’s primary responsibility is to the public, stating, “If there is wrongdoing, action must be taken. That’s the only way to ensure the same mistake won’t be repeated.”
He acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and the impact on the state’s reputation. “The issue that has come out today has badly damaged brand Andhra Pradesh in the public forum. It makes me very sad,” he added.
The SEC filings have not specified the bribe amount allegedly offered during the meeting between Adani and Jagan Reddy. However, the US Justice Department claimed that an unnamed Andhra Pradesh government official was offered kickbacks to the tune of Rs 1,750 crore, aimed at facilitating state distribution companies to buy solar power from SECI.
Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which was in power from 2019 to 2024, has denied any wrongdoing. A party spokesperson reiterated that there was “no direct agreement” between the state government and the Adani Group during their tenure.
Naidu assured the assembly that the government is reviewing the case documents, which are publicly accessible. While the Chief Minister stopped short of announcing specific measures, he promised to keep the public informed. “We will discuss what decision we need to take and will inform all of you accordingly,” he said.
The allegations against Jagan Mohan Reddy, part of a larger bribery and fraud case against Adani and his associates, have triggered a political storm in Andhra Pradesh, with opposition parties calling for transparency and accountability from both the state and central governments.