BJD says allegations of Adani paying bribe to Odisha govt false
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

BJD says allegations of Adani paying bribe to Odisha govt false

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.

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.

Next Story
Real Estate

Varun Malik Joins ANAROCK as MD, Head of Capital Markets, APAC

ANAROCK Capital has appointed Varun Malik as Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets (APAC), marking a strategic move to expand its presence across Asia-Pacific. Based in Singapore, Malik will drive ANAROCK’s capital markets initiatives in the region.A real estate finance veteran, Malik brings over 18 years of experience in structuring complex cross-border transactions across South-East Asia and Australia. He has led debt and equity deals for REITs, fund managers, and developers, delivering strong returns and driving investor value.“We will redefine real estate capital solutions across ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Patra Chawl lottery held, 663 families allotted homes

Mumbai's Siddharth Nagar (Patra Chawl) Co-operative Housing Society members in Goregaon (West) saw their 15-year wait come to a close as MHADA conducted a successful computerised lottery for 663 eligible members under its redevelopment scheme.The Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board conducted the draw using the RAT (Randomised Allotment of Tenement) system at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hall. The lottery, overseen by Mr. Milind Borikar, Chief Officer of Mumbai Board, ensured transparency by digitally allotting each member a building, wing, and floor.The project, located on Plot R-9, received..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

BLR Airport crosses 41 million passengers, 500,000 MT cargo

Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport), has recorded key operational milestones in FY 2024-25, crossing 41.88 million passengers and handling 502,480 metric tonnes of cargo. This marks a year-on-year passenger growth of 11.6 per cent and a 14 per cent rise in cargo volumes.Domestic footfall reached 36.05 million, up 10 per cent, while international traffic saw a robust 25 per cent jump to 5.83 million, aided by Indigo’s global expansion and added frequencies by international carriers. BLR Airport now connects to 76 domestic and 33 international destinations, with Hanoi set..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?