The Aam Aadmi Party said on Thursday that the Adani group tried to enter Delhi’s power sector but was stopped by then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, stressing the need for accountability after industrialist Gautam Adani was charged in the US for alleged bribery and fraud.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh claimed that Adani Green Energy secured power supply contracts in several states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, through unethical means.

“Adani even attempted to enter Delhi’s electricity market but failed because then chief minister Arvind Kejriwal stopped them,” Singh said, adding if the BJP gains power in Delhi, electricity costs could surge.

“We will not keep quiet and will raise this matter with full force in the upcoming session of Parliament,” the senior AAP leader added.

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh alleged that Adani gave bribes of more than Rs 2100 crores to government officials. Modi’s friend Gautam Adani has distorted the image of India in the whole world, he added.

“Wherever PM Modi goes, he looks for the benefit of his friend Adani and not India. The case that has come up against Adani in America is very surprising. Modi ji exerted pressure to get the electricity contract for his friend,” he said.

The US prosecutors have charged a billionaire industrialist for allegedly participating in a scheme to bribe Indian officials with over USD 250 million (approximately Rs 2,100 crore) in exchange for favorable solar power contracts.

Reports suggested that this scheme was concealed from the US banks and investors that provided billions of dollars to the Adani group for the project, as claimed by the prosecutors.

In response to the charges, the Adani group has firmly denied the allegations, asserting that they are unfounded and that the conglomerate complies with all applicable laws. They also stated that they intend to pursue all available legal options.

A spokesperson for the Adani group commented, “The allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against Adani Green’s directors are baseless and categorically denied.”

The AAP leader said this case was being investigated in America for the last two years and it came to light that Adani’s nephew Sagar Adani had bribed the officials and evidence of this has also been found.

“Now an arrest warrant has been issued against Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani in America. The BJP people are standing with the Adanis,” Singh said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the Indian hockey team for winning the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy.

Calling the victory a phenomenal accomplishment, PM Modi said their success will motivate many upcoming athletes.

“Congratulations to our hockey team on winning the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy. They played exceptionally well through the tournament. Their success will motivate many upcoming athletes,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

With this victory, India now shares the title of the most decorated team in the tournament’s history, matching South Korea with three titles each.

Deepika scored the only goal of the match as India defeated China 1-0 in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey final, securing their record-equalling third title. Although Deepika missed a penalty stroke earlier, she found the back of the net just minutes into the third quarter, giving India a 1-0 lead that they held onto despite a late push from China in the final quarter.

In contrast to previous matches, India started cautiously, fully aware of China’s aggressive approach and their tendency to create early chances. The initial minutes saw India on the back foot as they withstood a strong Chinese attack before gradually regaining composure and improving their ball control.

Later in the match, China earned a penalty corner, but Lalremsiami, named player of the match, swiftly intervened, allowing Bichhu Devi to stretch out and clear the rebound.

India’s persistent efforts resulted in four quick penalty corners within the 20th minute, yet their struggles with penalty corner execution continued, marked by off-target shots, ineffective variations, and solid saves from the Chinese goalkeeper. China was awarded another penalty corner three minutes later, but they could not convert either.

However, India began to find their rhythm, and just moments after the third quarter started, they earned their fifth penalty corner. Despite a messy injection, the ball remained in play; it was skillfully dragged in, allowing Deepika to execute a precise reverse hit that left the Chinese defense and goalkeeper helpless.

After Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP said the states that allegedly received bribes from the Adani Group for solar power deals, as mentioned in the US indictment, were ruled by the Opposition. 

While addressing a press conference on Thursday, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi for attempting to tarnish the Prime Minister’s image. The Congress MP alleged that Narendra Modi was hand in glove with Gautam Adani in corrupt activities.

Sambit Patra underlined that none of the four states mentioned in US charges against Adani Group had a BJP CM. He added that Congress and its allies were in power in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu.

The US prosecutors recently said the Adani Group paid $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure contracts with state electricity distribution companies between 2021-2023. However, the Adani Group has called the allegations baseless.

The states named in the US indictment are Odisha (then ruled by Naveen Patnaik’s BJD), Tamil Nadu (under DMK), Chhattisgarh (under Congress), and Jammu and Kashmir (under Central rule). Andhra Pradesh was then helmed by Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress.

Criticizing Rahul Gandhi, Sambit Patra said that it was the Leader of the Opposition’s usual tactic to attack India and structures that defend the country.

The Puri MP further added that Rahul Gandhi had raked up the Rafale issue in 2019 in a similar fashion, mentioning that the Congress leader had claimed that a big revelation would be made. During the Covid pandemic, Rahul Gandhi used to do press conferences in a similar fashion over vaccines, Sambit Patra continued. 

Speaking on Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the Congress was doing the work of the judiciary, the BJP spokesperson stressed that both the Congress MP and Sonia Gandhi were out on bail in the National Herald case.