Seeman, the coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi, has raised questions regarding Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin’s secret meeting with prominent industrialist Gautam Adani. Seeman’s inquiry comes in light of allegations that Adani’s group engaged in corrupt practices to secure contracts for solar power projects in India.In a statement, Seeman expressed concerns about the dealings between Adani’s group and various state power utilities, including Tamil Nadu, alleging that bribes worth nearly ₹2,000 crore were paid to secure contracts for the purchase of solar energy. The United States government recently exposed these allegations, stating that between 2020 and 2024, Adani’s group had bribed power utilities in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jammu & Kashmir to secure deals for solar power generation.
According to Seeman, the U.S. authorities have presented evidence of these bribes and linked them to Adani’s efforts to raise investments in the United States. The matter has led to a case being filed in the U.S. Eastern District Court, with arrest warrants issued against eight individuals, including Gautam Adani and his relative Sagar Adani.
Seeman also referred to a contract signed between the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) and the Indian Solar Power Corporation on September 21, 2021, for the supply of 1,000 MW of solar energy. He claims that the agreement was reached after bribes were paid to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, as alleged by the U.S. authorities.
The controversy also highlights a previous case from 2012 to 2016, during the tenure of the AIADMK government, where the Adani Group was accused of causing a ₹6,000 crore loss to Tamil Nadu’s power sector by selling low-quality Indonesian coal at inflated prices. Despite these serious allegations, Seeman claims that no legal action has been taken against Adani’s group, raising questions about the effectiveness of the state’s governance.
Seeman also criticized the ruling DMK for its silence on these issues, especially in light of the recent revelations. He questioned the rationale behind Chief Minister Stalin’s secret meeting with Gautam Adani in July 2024. Seeman suggested that there might be a hidden relationship between the DMK government and the Adani Group, questioning whether this was a form of “secret diplomacy” at the expense of the common people.
Seeman’s statement also pointed out the absurdity of a government that claims to represent the people while allegedly engaging in corruption and secrecy with corporate giants. He concluded by questioning whether the Dravidian model of governance was being undermined by the state’s close ties with powerful corporate interests, further diminishing the credibility of the government.