Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said that the state government will benefit from the Solar Energy Corporation of India's (SECI) power purchase agreement with the Adani group, adding that any action on bribery allegations against the conglomerate will be based on a thorough review. From the available records.
Addressing the media at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) headquarters in Mangalagiri on Wednesday, Naidu said, “We will proceed as per legal provisions after a thorough examination of the reports.”
Speaking in Vijayawada on Tuesday, he stressed that the state government cannot cancel contracts without substantial evidence of irregularities. “Cancellation of contracts without clear evidence can lead to severe penalties. We need concrete evidence before taking any action,” he explained.
The development comes a month after US authorities indicted Gautam Adani on charges of bribing Indian officials to secure lucrative solar power contracts. Speaking in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on November 22, Naidu confirmed that his government had received the US indictment report and assured that action would be taken if any discrepancies were found.
Reiterating his stand on governance, Naidu said, “I will never indulge in revenge politics, but I will not spare those who do wrong. No one, however powerful, is above the law.”
He criticized the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing it of breaking critical systems and stalling major projects like Amaravati and Polavaram. “People suffered immeasurably during five years of YSRCP rule due to anarchic policies. It wreaked havoc with major infrastructure and development projects,” he added.
Naidu lauded public confidence in his leadership reflected in what he called a “historic verdict” that returned the TDP-led alliance to power in 2024. He mentioned his active efforts after assuming power, including multiple trips to New Delhi for central security. Address funding and technical hurdles.
Taking a tough tone on online dissent, Naidu warned of strict action against dissenting social media posts. “People will see the same determination that I showed as Chief Minister in 1995. Strict action will be taken against people who spread protests on the Internet,” he warned.
The US indictment against Adani alleges that he met privately with a high-ranking Andhra Pradesh official, referred to as “Foreign Official 1” in 2021, to advance power supply agreements between SECI and Andhra Pradesh's state electricity distribution companies. While the official has not been named, filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission show that Adani met the state's chief minister in August 2021. From May 2019 to June 2024, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
In response, the YSR Congress Party has denied any direct agreement between the state's power distribution companies and the Adani Group, calling the allegations baseless.