BJD says allegations of Adani paying bribe to Odisha govt false

27 Nov 2024 CW Team

Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, representing the current BJP government, stated that the administration would take necessary actions regarding the alleged bribery case. The accusations stem from charges filed by the US Department of Justice, alleging that Adani and seven others, including his nephew Sagar Adani, paid bribes to officials in multiple states, including Odisha, to secure contracts for expensive solar power, potentially yielding over $2 billion in profits over 20 years.

The Adani Group denied the allegations, describing them as "baseless" and asserting its compliance with all laws. Former Odisha Energy Minister and BJD MLA PK Deb reiterated that the allegations involving Odisha were unfounded. He clarified that the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in question, signed in 2021, was between the central public sector unit Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Odisha’s state PSU, Gridco. The agreement, part of the central government’s Manufacturing Linked Solar Scheme, was for procuring 500 MW of renewable energy at the lowest rates. Deb further asserted that no private entities, including the Adani Group, were involved in the agreement.

The BJD explained that Odisha has been procuring renewable energy from central PSUs like SECI and NTPC since 2011 to meet its commitments to renewable energy. Deb noted that while other states manage power distribution directly, Odisha has privatised this sector, with Tata Power handling distribution. Furthermore, all agreements undergo approval by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), an autonomous body, and the state government has no direct role in such matters.

Deb emphasised that neither the Energy Department minister nor the secretary were involved in these agreements, underscoring the baselessness of the allegations. Gridco, which manages bulk power purchase and distribution within Odisha and trades surplus power with neighbouring states, has yet to issue a response to the accusations.

Senior BJD leader and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Prasanna Acharya, called for an immediate and impartial investigation into the bribery allegations. Meanwhile, senior Odisha Congress leader Sarat Pattanayak endorsed Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which governed Odisha from 2000 until June 2024, dismissed allegations that state government officials accepted bribes from the Adani Group in connection with the supply of renewable energy from the central pool. The party, led by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, stated that the claims were false and not based on fact. It also emphasised that Odisha's situation differed from other states, as the BJD government had privatised power distribution, meaning the state administration had no direct involvement in renewable energy agreements. Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, representing the current BJP government, stated that the administration would take necessary actions regarding the alleged bribery case. The accusations stem from charges filed by the US Department of Justice, alleging that Adani and seven others, including his nephew Sagar Adani, paid bribes to officials in multiple states, including Odisha, to secure contracts for expensive solar power, potentially yielding over $2 billion in profits over 20 years. The Adani Group denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and asserting its compliance with all laws. Former Odisha Energy Minister and BJD MLA PK Deb reiterated that the allegations involving Odisha were unfounded. He clarified that the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in question, signed in 2021, was between the central public sector unit Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Odisha’s state PSU, Gridco. The agreement, part of the central government’s Manufacturing Linked Solar Scheme, was for procuring 500 MW of renewable energy at the lowest rates. Deb further asserted that no private entities, including the Adani Group, were involved in the agreement. The BJD explained that Odisha has been procuring renewable energy from central PSUs like SECI and NTPC since 2011 to meet its commitments to renewable energy. Deb noted that while other states manage power distribution directly, Odisha has privatised this sector, with Tata Power handling distribution. Furthermore, all agreements undergo approval by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), an autonomous body, and the state government has no direct role in such matters. Deb emphasised that neither the Energy Department minister nor the secretary were involved in these agreements, underscoring the baselessness of the allegations. Gridco, which manages bulk power purchase and distribution within Odisha and trades surplus power with neighbouring states, has yet to issue a response to the accusations. Senior BJD leader and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Prasanna Acharya, called for an immediate and impartial investigation into the bribery allegations. Meanwhile, senior Odisha Congress leader Sarat Pattanayak endorsed Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter.

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