Fri Nov 29 15:17:25 UTC 2024: ## Jagan Reddy Denies US Bribery Allegations, Defends Adani Meeting

**Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh:** Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has vehemently denied US allegations of bribery related to a 2021 power deal involving the Adani Group. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Reddy stated that his meetings with Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani were part of his duties as chief minister to attract investment and had no bearing on the power agreement.

The deal, signed between Andhra Pradesh’s power distribution company and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a central government PSU, secured 7,000 MW of power at a rate Reddy described as the lowest in the tendering process, further bolstered by a waiver on interstate transmission charges. He emphasized that the agreement’s terms were highly favorable to the state and that the involvement of Adani was coincidental, citing multiple meetings with Adani between 2019 and the end of his tenure.

Reddy dismissed the significance of a particular August 2021 meeting cited in the US report, arguing that meeting businesspeople is a standard practice for a chief minister aiming to promote economic growth. He pointed out that many states actively seek investment through similar interactions.

The Adani Group has also issued a statement categorically denying the bribery allegations and vowing to pursue all available legal options. The group asserted its unwavering commitment to transparency and compliance with all applicable laws.

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