Adani in the dock again as US probes suspected Iranian LPG shipments via Mundra port

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani finds himself in the crosshairs of US authorities once again, with a fresh investigation reportedly underway into whether his companies facilitated the import of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) into India through the group’s .

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the US Department of Justice is examining the activities of several tankers that delivered LPG cargoes to Adani Enterprises. These vessels, the report claims, showed behavioural patterns commonly associated with sanctions evasion, particularly in voyages between Mundra and ports in the Persian Gulf.

The scrutiny comes at a time when Adani is already battling legal troubles in the United States. Last year, prosecutors indicted him and his nephew, Sagar Adani, over allegations of bribery to secure energy contracts and misleading American investors.

The 54-page indictment accused Adani of personally lobbying Indian officials to win contracts worth billions for a renewable energy firm within the conglomerate. It also claimed that Adani Green Energy executives misrepresented the company’s anti-corruption compliance to gain access to US funding.

In the latest development, the WSJ cites sources as saying the fresh probe focuses on whether Adani-linked companies bypassed sanctions by importing Iranian petrochemical products.

The report notes that these imports may have contravened directives issued by then US President Donald Trump, who had warned that any entity engaging in oil or petrochemical trade with Iran would face secondary sanctions.

Responding to the claims, an Adani Group spokesperson strongly denied any wrongdoing: “We categorically deny any deliberate engagement in sanctions evasion or trade involving Iranian-origin LPG. Furthermore, we are not aware of any investigation by US authorities on this subject.”

Despite the denial, the new allegations add to the mounting pressure on the conglomerate, which has faced repeated scrutiny over its global operations and financial practices. The Adani Group has maintained that all previous accusations are baseless and has pledged to pursue legal remedies.

With the US reportedly intensifying its investigations, this renewed spotlight threatens to complicate the group’s international fundraising efforts and further tarnish its image on the global stage.