Swiss authorities have frozen over $310 million linked to entities associated with the Adani Group, marking a pivotal development in a long-running money laundering investigation. The funds, held in multiple Swiss bank accounts, are part of an inquiry that has been underway since 2021.
According to Gotham City, a Swiss investigative news outlet, the investigation has unearthed significant financial activity tied to investment structures based in offshore tax havens, including the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Mauritius, and Bermuda. These entities were reportedly involved in owning Adani Group stocks.
Hindenburg Research, which first exposed the allegations in January 2023, accused the Adani Group of using these tax havens to circumvent local market regulations. “The use of offshore structures to evade regulatory oversight represents a serious breach of financial norms,” said a Hindenburg Research spokesperson in a statement posted on X. “Our investigation revealed that Adani Group was deeply involved in using these opaque financial channels.”
Swiss authorities have been meticulous in their examination of these accounts. The probe has highlighted how a frontman for the Adani Group invested in complex, opaque financial arrangements. Swiss prosecutor Hans Müller commented, “The freezing of these assets is a critical step in our investigation. It signals our commitment to upholding financial integrity and combating money laundering on an international scale.”
The Adani Group has yet to respond officially to the latest developments. However, the Swiss investigation sheds light on broader concerns about financial transparency and regulatory evasion. “We are closely monitoring the situation and cooperating with international regulators to ensure that justice is served,” said a Swiss Financial Market Authority representative