Fresh evidence surfaces in the decade-long probe into “over-invoicing” of coal imports totalling over Rs. 35,000 crore by corporates including Adani. This scam’s main victim was the public at large rather than the government’s coffers. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had found evidence that over 40 companies were over-charging for coal that was imported and sold to thermal power plants across the country.
Adani Group companies have been accused of over-invoicing coal and power equipment by an Indian government agency and by the Hindenburg report. Over-invoicing is a practice in which the prices of imported goods are jacked up by an intermediary owned by the buyer. The inflated price is passed on to consumers or is subsidised by government, with the buyer able to pocket the difference. A blizzard of litigation has occurred over these allegations in India’s courts. In early 2024, rulings by the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court appear to have shunted any effective investigation of these allegations off into the never-never.
The network of offshore companies and Swiss bank accounts that were used to divide Dhirubhai Ambani’s foreign assets after his death is being probed by the income tax authorities; a company crucial to the network was MoTech Software.
