Billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani have formally agreed to accept service of a civil lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), removing a key procedural obstacle and enabling the case to advance in the Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn.

Court filings indicate that the defendants’ lawyers appeared before the federal court and consented to receive the SEC’s summons on their behalf. While the Adanis have agreed to the service, they reserve the right to contest the lawsuit on all grounds, including jurisdiction.

Following the court’s directions, Gautam and Sagar Adani now have 90 days to respond to the SEC’s complaint. The regulator may then submit a reply within 60 days, after which the defendants can file additional responses if necessary.

The SEC’s case, first filed in November 2024, alleges that Gautam and Sagar Adani misled U.S. investors in connection with a USD 265 million bribery scheme linked to solar power contracts awarded to Adani Green Energy in India. The suit is filed under U.S. securities laws and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The case had been delayed for over a year because the defendants were in India and could not be served. Last week, the SEC sought alternative service through the Adanis’ U.S. counsel and business emails after attempts to deliver papers via India’s Ministry of Law and Justice were unsuccessful.

AGEL, the renewable energy arm of the Adani Group, clarified that it is not a party to the proceedings; the case involves only Gautam and Sagar Adani as directors. No criminal charges have been filed, and the matter remains purely civil.

Gautam and Sagar Adani have retained prominent Wall Street attorney Robert Giuffra Jr., who confirmed that he accepted service on their behalf. This allows the case to proceed without the court addressing the mechanics of service.

As the legal process moves forward, the Adanis may file motions to dismiss or respond to the complaint, while the SEC retains the right to challenge any defenses raised. The Adani Group continues to deny wrongdoing, emphasizing its adherence to governance, transparency, and compliance standards.