Naidu Asserts SECI Power Agreements Can’t Be Canceled Without Bribery Evidence

Naidu Asserts SECI Power Agreements Can’t Be Canceled Without Bribery Evidence

N. Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, has made it clear that the state government cannot terminate power purchase contracts with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) based on unproven claims of bribery. Before taking any action against Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) or any other parties implicated, Naidu stressed the need for specific proof in a Thursday interview with the media.

Following the Andhra Pradesh Power Distribution Companies’ decision last month to purchase more than 4,000 million units of power from SECI—a portion of the agreed-upon 17,000 MU from the next fiscal year—Naidu made these remarks. According to him, the state gained much from SECI’s choice to purchase electricity from the Adani Group, and any claims of corruption have to be supported by credible evidence.

Naidu made it plain that unless “concrete proof” is shown, no action would be taken against AGEL in relation to the ongoing bribery claims. He said that he would only take the necessary action after carefully examining all pertinent documentation. “I never take part in political grudges. But I won’t spare wrongdoers,” Naidu declared, reaffirming his dedication to openness. He further emphasized that the state may face legal issues if Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are prematurely canceled without enough justification.

The Adani Group has called the accusations “baseless” and refuted them. The company has emphasized that there is no proof to back up the bribery allegations in the US indictment, which indicates a meeting between Mr. Adani and the Andhra Pradesh chief minister but does not specifically identify any officials. Project cancellations, market effects, and public and investor scrutiny were among the serious consequences that the Adani Group attributed to what it called “incorrect” reporting.

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In the meantime, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party has denied the bribery claims. According to the party, there was no meddling from other parties and the deal between the distribution businesses, SECI, and the state government was completely lawful.