Rahul Gandhi Alleges PM Modi Silent on Trump Threats Due to Ongoing U.S. Probe Into Adani

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on August 6, 2025, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot confront U.S. President Donald Trump due to “the ongoing U.S. investigation into Adani.”

This statement followed President Trump’s warning that tariffs on Indian products would be raised “very substantially” in the next 24 hours.

Trump’s threat stemmed from India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and his claim that India has not been a reliable trading partner.

Rahul Gandhi’s Accusation on X

Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, said, “India, please understand: The reason PM Modi cannot stand up to President Trump despite his repeated threats is the ongoing U.S. investigation into Adani.

One threat is to expose the financial links between Modi, AA, and Russian oil deals. Modi’s hands are tied,” without elaborating further.

The Modi government and the Adani Group have not responded to Gandhi’s claims.

Adani Group Under U.S. Investigation

According to an indictment unsealed in a New York court in November last year, Gautam Adani and seven other defendants, including his nephew Sagar, director at Adani Green Energy Ltd, are accused of paying approximately $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials.

These alleged bribes occurred between 2020 and 2024, reportedly to secure profitable solar energy supply contracts expected to generate $2 billion over 20 years.

The Adani Group has denied the allegations and stated that it remains “steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions of its operations.”

Trump’s Tariff Threats Over Russian Oil Purchases

Earlier this week, President Trump warned that U.S. tariffs on India would be raised significantly. He accused India of purchasing large quantities of Russian oil and reselling it in open markets for substantial profits.

This comment from Trump prompted an unusually strong response from India. New Delhi countered both the United States and the European Union, calling their accusations “unjustified and unreasonable.”

India defended its crude oil procurement from Russia and objected to being singled out while Western countries continued trade with Russia.

Gandhi Links Modi’s Silence to Adani Investigation

In response to Trump’s threats and the ongoing trade tensions, Rahul Gandhi reiterated that the Adani investigation may be influencing Modi’s silence. Gandhi’s post stated, “One threat is to expose the financial links between Modi, AA, and Russian oil deals. Modi’s hands are tied.”

There has been no official response from either the Modi government or the Adani Group on this post.

Gandhi’s Comment Comes Amid Legal Scrutiny

Gandhi’s post came just days after the Supreme Court of India advised him to make comments within Parliament rather than on social media.

This occurred during proceedings in a criminal defamation case related to his comments in December 2022 about the Galwan clash between India and China.

Details of the Adani Bribery Allegations

Gautam Adani and seven others, including his nephew Sagar, who serves as the director at Adani Green Energy Ltd, are accused of offering bribes to Indian officials worth $265 million.

These bribes allegedly took place from 2020 to 2024 and were aimed at securing valuable solar energy supply contracts. According to reports, these contracts were projected to bring in nearly $2 billion in profit over two decades.

India Counters Trump’s Allegations

Following Trump’s statement about increased tariffs and India’s Russian oil trade, New Delhi responded sharply. The Indian government issued a strong rebuttal, criticizing both the U.S. and the European Union for what it described as biased and unreasonable accusations.

India emphasized that the criticism reflected double standards, pointing out that while the West continued to import goods from Russia, India was being unfairly targeted for doing the same.

Trump’s Response to India’s Rebuttal

On Tuesday, Trump was asked about India’s claim that the U.S. still imports Russian uranium, fertilizers, and chemicals. In response, he said he was unaware of such imports, downplaying the issue without denying it outright.