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Large business groups and governments of different parties - the documented record

Dated dealings of the Reliance, Adani and other large groups with Centre and state governments led by different parties, set out side by side with each party's recorded statements.

A dossier is a fact file. It records what is on record and who said what; it does not give a verdict. It is not scored and earns or loses no party points. How dossiers are written.

Overview

This file asks one question with documents: did governments led by different parties deal with the same large business groups in similar ways? It lays out dated decisions, contracts and statements for the Reliance and Adani groups, with the party and government in office each time. The sources are mostly news reports; court and Lok Sabha documents are used where they could be identified.

What the record shows [1][2][3][5][8][9][10][11][13]: Adani Ports and SEZ signed the Vizhinjam concession in Kerala in 2015 under an INC-led state government, and the port started trial operations in 2024 under a CPI(M)-led one. Six airports were leased to Adani Enterprises in 2019-20 by BJP-led Centre governments over the objection of a CPI(M)-led state government. Rajasthan had an Adani joint-venture solar park in 2015 and a publicised Rs 65,000 crore investment announcement in 2022 under an INC chief minister. Telangana’s INC government first announced and then declined a Rs 100 crore donation in 2024. The UPA-era KG-D6 gas price decisions and 2G licences, and the BJP-era coal block and port decisions, were contested in public and, in the 2G and coal cases, ruled on by the Supreme Court.

Parties’ recorded statements are set out in the positions list. Rahul Gandhi (INC) criticised the Adani group in Parliament in February 2023 [17]; Rajasthan’s INC chief minister welcomed its investment in October 2022 and Telangana’s INC chief minister announced, then declined, a donation in 2024 [10][13]. BJP spokespeople criticised the Rajasthan event in 2022; the BJP-led Centre leased the airports in 2019-20 [4][13]. These are statements and dates; they do not show why any decision was made, or whether any party changed its position.

The coverage has gaps, listed under “What this does not show”.

Timeline

In date order. Each item shows what kind of statement it is, who is the actor, and where it comes from.

  1. Official statementGovernment of India (centre-2004-manmohan-1, INC-led)

    Government fixes the price of KG-D6 gas at $4.205 per mmBtu for the first five years of production (exact month not stated in the source seen).

    Source [5]: CCEA approves hike in natural gas price to $8.4 per mmBtu (seen in search results, not opened)
  2. FindingSupreme Court of India (centre-2009-manmohan-2 in office)

    Supreme Court declares the first-come-first-served 2G allocation policy illegal and quashes 122 licences granted from 10 January 2008; directs a CBI investigation.

    Source [8]: Centre for PIL & Ors v. Union of India & Ors, 2 February 2012 (opened via Indian Kanoon; the page records the grant of licences to 122 applicants and a direction for a CBI investigation; the quashing and the 10 January 2008 cut-off are taken from media summaries)
  3. EventCCEA, centre-2009-manmohan-2 (INC-led)

    Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves pricing domestic gas under the Rangarajan formula; reports at the time estimated about $8.4 per mmBtu from April 2014.

    Source [5]: CCEA approves hike in natural gas price to $8.4 per mmBtu (seen in search results, not opened)
  4. Allegationstate-delhi-2013-kejriwal-1 (AAP)

    Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (AAP) says his government ordered FIRs against the then and a former oil minister, Reliance's chairman and others over gas pricing (his statement as reported; no response from Reliance or the named ministers was found in the source seen). Exact date not verified; he held office 2013-12-28 to 2014-02-14.

    Source [7]: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal takes on Ambani over price-fixing (seen in search results, not opened)
  5. FindingSupreme Court of India (centre-2014-modi-1 in office)

    Supreme Court, by judgment of 25 August 2014, declares illegal the coal block allocations made by the Screening Committee and the government route from 1993 and leaves the consequences to a further hearing (judgment opened); by a later order, as reported by Down To Earth, 214 of 218 allocations are cancelled and four are spared. Allocations had been made by governments of several parties.

    Source [9]: Supreme Court cancels allotment of 214 coal blocks (seen in search results, not opened)Source [20]: Manohar Lal Sharma v. Principal Secretary & Others, 25 August 2014 (opened via Indian Kanoon; declaration of illegality, consequences left to a further hearing)
  6. EventGovernment of India (centre-2014-modi-1, BJP-led)

    Coal block auctions begin after the cancellations (the month is as reported; winners of the first rounds were not verified for this dossier).

    Source [9]: Supreme Court cancels allotment of 214 coal blocks (seen in search results, not opened)
  7. Official statementGovernment of Rajasthan; Adani group

    Adani group signs an agreement with the Rajasthan government for a 50:50 joint-venture 10,000 MW solar park. The agreement source does not name the chief minister or party; the Rajasthan chief minister on that date was Vasundhara Raje (BJP, in office 13 December 2013 to 17 December 2018), taken from the list of chief ministers of Rajasthan, not from the agreement source.

    Source [14]: Adani group inks pact to set up 10k MW solar park, 15 June 2015 (seen in search results, not opened)Source [21]: List of chief ministers of Rajasthan (opened; Vasundhara Raje, BJP, 13 December 2013 to 17 December 2018)
  8. Eventstate-kerala-2011-chandy-2 (CM Oommen Chandy, INC); Adani Ports and SEZ

    Kerala's Fisheries and Ports department signs the Vizhinjam concession agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ (APSEZ): design-build-finance-operate-transfer, 40 years with a possible 20-year extension.

    Source [1]: APSEZ scales record high after signing agreement for Vizhinjam port development project (seen in search results, not opened; fetch returned 403)
  9. EventAirports Authority of India / centre-2014-modi-1 (BJP-led)

    Adani Enterprises is the highest bidder for six airports (Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati); Kerala's KSIDC is second on the Thiruvananthapuram bid. Month as reported.

    Source [3]: Thiruvananthapuram airport privatisation: Hardeep Singh Puri says Kerala already running two airports under PPP model (seen in search results, not opened)
  10. Eventcentre-2019-modi-2 (BJP-led)

    Union Cabinet approves leasing Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow airports to Adani Enterprises (month as reported).

    Source [3]: Thiruvananthapuram airport privatisation: Hardeep Singh Puri says Kerala already running two airports under PPP model (seen in search results, not opened)
  11. Eventcentre-2019-modi-2; state-kerala-2016-pinarayi-1 (CPI(M)-led)

    Union Cabinet approves leasing Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports; Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan writes to the Prime Minister opposing the Thiruvananthapuram lease and an all-party meeting in Kerala (except BJP) asks for withdrawal.

    Source [4]: Centre approves proposal for leasing out Thiruvananthapuram, 2 other airports (seen in search results, not opened)
  12. Eventstate-maharashtra-2022-shinde (CM Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena)

    Maharashtra issues a fresh Dharavi redevelopment tender in 2022 after cancelling the 2018 tender; Adani Properties emerges as highest bidder at Rs 5,069 crore (exact months not verified).

    Source [11]: Dharavi slum redevelopment project: Adani, fresh tender, Maharashtra government (seen in search results, not opened)
  13. Eventstate-west-bengal-2011-mamata (AITC)

    West Bengal hands the letter of award for the Tajpur deep-sea port to Adani Ports and SEZ at a post-Durga Puja event (month as reported).

    Source [15]: Behind Tajpur port relocation (seen in search results, not opened)
  14. EventGovernment of Rajasthan (INC); Adani group

    At the Invest Rajasthan summit in Jaipur (7-8 October) Gautam Adani announces Rs 65,000 crore of investment over 5-7 years; CM Ashok Gehlot (INC) publicly welcomes him.

    Source [13]: Adani, Amit Shah's son are welcome to invest in Rajasthan, says Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (seen in search results, not opened)
  15. Eventstate-kerala-2021-pinarayi-2 (CPI(M)-led); Adani Ports and SEZ

    Vizhinjam port starts trial operations with its first mothership (July 2024).

    Source [2]: Vizhinjam International Seaport: India's 1st automated deep-sea port
  16. EventTelangana government (CM A. Revanth Reddy, INC); Adani Foundation

    Adani Foundation announces Rs 100 crore for the Young India Skills University, Telangana (reports differ between 18 and 24 October).

    Source [10]: CM Revanth rejects Adani's Rs 100 cr donation for university citing controversies
  17. Official statementTelangana government (INC)

    Telangana declines the donation; a letter from the Special Chief Secretary tells the Foundation not to transfer funds 'in view of the present circumstances and arising controversies'. No funds had been transferred.

    Source [10]: CM Revanth rejects Adani's Rs 100 cr donation for university citing controversies
  18. FindingBombay High Court

    Bombay High Court dismisses Seclink Technologies' challenge to the cancellation of the 2018 Dharavi tender and the award to Adani Properties, finding it not arbitrary or irrational. Seclink then appealed; the Supreme Court issued notice in March 2025.

    Source [12]: HC upholds award of tender to Adani Group to redevelop Dharavi slums, says no perversity seen (seen in search results, not opened)
  19. Eventstate-west-bengal-2011-mamata (AITC); later state-west-bengal-2026-suvendu (BJP)

    West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announces at the Bengal Global Business Summit that Tajpur will be re-bid. Later reports say the state cabinet cleared a fresh tender and declared the Adani agreement void; the date of that cabinet decision is not stated in the source seen.

    Source [15]: Behind Tajpur port relocation (seen in search results, not opened)

Claims

Findings, official statements, data and events are on record. An allegation is a claim that no finding has established; it is marked with a dashed border, a warning triangle and the words "Not established", and always shows its status and any response.

Claims in this dossierEach claim shows its type, who made it, its current status and any response. Type is shown in words and symbols, not colour.
ClaimTypeMade byStatusResponseSource
Not established by a findingAdani land rates at Mundra (port and SEZ) ranged from Re 1 to Rs 32 per square metre, below what other companies paid in Gujarat, and a CAG review found the group under-used as much as 87 per cent of land bought from the state.AllegationBusiness Standard reporting (2014) citing state government sources and a CAG review; political critics including Rahul GandhiReported in 2014. Not established by a court finding in the sources reviewed. The Supreme Court is reported to have declined to overturn the 2007 Zarpara allotment.Gautam Adani is reported to have said the Re 1 rate dated to 1995 under the then Gujarat government and that his group got about 5,000 acres under Mr Modi at an average of Rs 15 per square metre, and that the group got 'no special' treatment. [18]: Adani group got land at cheapest rates in Modi's Gujarat (seen in search results, not opened)
Not established by a findingGas pricing for KG-D6 and the 2013 Rangarajan formula benefited Reliance Industries at consumers' expense.AllegationCPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta (2013), who said KG-D6 production cost was about $2.74 per mmBtu; AAP's Arvind Kejriwal (2014)Policy contested; reports say the 2013 decision was not notified before the 2014 election and that Reliance began arbitration over the delay. No court or regulator finding on motive is cited here.Oil Minister M. Veerappa Moily was reported saying the price then payable under the formula was $6.83 per mmBtu and that no $8.4 price was in force at that time. Reliance's response to the FIR order is not in the sources reviewed. [6]: CPI's Dasgupta questions $8.4 an mBtu gas price (seen in search results, not opened)
Not established by a findingAndhra Pradesh agreed in 2021 to buy 7 GW of solar power via SECI after a promise of payments to a state official, as alleged in the US SEC complaint.AllegationUS SEC / US Department of Justice (November 2024); TDP spokespeople allege kickbacksAs of the 2024 source, US proceedings were pending; the Adani Group dossier records that the criminal counts against the three appearing defendants were dismissed with prejudice and a consent civil judgment was entered on 10 August 2026 (as reported there). The state government (a different party from 2024) said it was reviewing the contracts. Media identified the official as the then CM; the court document as reported does not name him.YSRCP and Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy denied wrongdoing, saying the contract was with SECI, a Government of India enterprise, and that the AP regulator approved 7,000 MW in November 2021. Adani Group called the US allegations 'baseless'. [16]: TDP holds press meet on Adani indictments, alleges Jagan took kickbacks for energy deals (seen in search results, not opened)
The Supreme Court held that 2G licences were granted under an illegal first-come-first-served policy and quashed 122 licences.FindingSupreme Court of India, Centre for PIL v. Union of India, 2 February 2012Judgment delivered; the quashing of 122 licences is as summarised by media (the opened page records the grant to 122 applicants and the CBI direction); operative effect deferred by four months and later orders. Licensee names are not enumerated in this dossier.Not applicable [8]: Centre for PIL & Ors v. Union of India & Ors, 2 February 2012 (opened via Indian Kanoon; the page records the grant of licences to 122 applicants and a direction for a CBI investigation; the quashing and the 10 January 2008 cut-off are taken from media summaries)
The Supreme Court declared coal block allocations since 1993 illegal and cancelled 214 of 218.FindingSupreme Court of India, August-September 2014 (Manohar Lal Sharma v. Principal Secretary)Allocations spanned governments of several parties. The 25 August 2014 judgment (opened) declares them illegal and leaves consequences for further hearing; the figure of 214 cancelled and four spared is as reported by Down To Earth.Not applicable [9]: Supreme Court cancels allotment of 214 coal blocks (seen in search results, not opened) [20]: Manohar Lal Sharma v. Principal Secretary & Others, 25 August 2014 (opened via Indian Kanoon; declaration of illegality, consequences left to a further hearing)
The 2022 Dharavi tender and award to Adani Properties was lawful.FindingBombay High Court, December 2024 (Seclink Technologies petition dismissed)As reported (order not opened). Appeal: Supreme Court issued notice to Maharashtra and Adani Properties in March 2025; later outcome not verified.Seclink Technologies, which had won the 2018 round, argued the cancellation and the new terms were arbitrary. [12]: HC upholds award of tender to Adani Group to redevelop Dharavi slums, says no perversity seen (seen in search results, not opened)

What the claim types mean

Finding
A court, regulator or statutory body's recorded finding or order. The order or judgment is cited.
Official statement
What a government, ministry, constitutional body or company officially said or filed.
Allegation
A claim by a party, petitioner, journalist, NGO or analyst that has not been established by a finding. Its current status and the named party’s response are always stated.
Data
A measured figure from an official or audited source, with its period and unit.
Event
A dated, uncontested occurrence, such as a notification issued, a bill passed or an arrest made.

Positions

Who says what, paraphrased with attribution. Every holder gets a card of the same size and the same fields.

Data tables

Documented dealings by government and partyEach row is a dated decision or contract involving a large group and a government. Government ids are from the tracker's data where the state or Centre is listed; for Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha no state file exists in the tracker, so the CM and party are named in the text. Dates are those in the cited source.
Government (id / head)PartyDateDecision, contract or approvalSource
centre-2004-manmohan-1 / Manmohan SinghINC-led2007KG-D6 gas price fixed at $4.205/mmBtu for five years[5]
centre-2009-manmohan-2 / Manmohan SinghINC-led2013-06-27CCEA approves Rangarajan gas-pricing formula (about $8.4/mmBtu expected from April 2014)[5]
centre-2009-manmohan-2 / Manmohan SinghINC-led2008-20122G licences granted under first-come-first-served; quashed by Supreme Court 2012-02-02[8]
state-delhi-2013-kejriwal-1 / Arvind KejriwalAAP2013-12 to 2014-02Orders FIRs on gas pricing naming a Reliance chairman and ministers (as stated by the CM)[7]
centre-2014-modi-1 / Narendra ModiBJP-led2014-09Supreme Court declares coal allocations since 1993 illegal (25 Aug 2014); 214 blocks reported cancelled; auctions begin 2015[9][20]
state-gujarat-2001-modi / Narendra Modi (CM)BJP2001-2014Port and SEZ land at Mundra allotted to the Adani group at Re 1-Rs 32/sq m (as reported)[18]
Rajasthan governmentBJP (CM Vasundhara Raje, per the list of Rajasthan chief ministers; the agreement source does not name her)2015-06-1550:50 joint venture for a 10,000 MW solar park with Adani Renewable Energy Park[14][21]
state-kerala-2011-chandy-2 / Oommen ChandyINC2015-08-17Vizhinjam port concession agreement with Adani Ports and SEZ[1]
state-kerala-2021-pinarayi-2 / Pinarayi VijayanCPI(M)2024-07Vizhinjam trial operations begin; the project continued across the 2016 and 2021 LDF terms[2]
centre-2014-modi-1 and centre-2019-modi-2 / Narendra ModiBJP-led2019-02 to 2020-08Six airports leased to Adani Enterprises after competitive bidding[3][4]
state-kerala-2016-pinarayi-1 / Pinarayi VijayanCPI(M)2019-2020Objects to the Thiruvananthapuram lease; Kerala High Court dismisses the state's plea[3]
Rajasthan government / Ashok GehlotINC2022-10-07Summit at which Adani announces Rs 65,000 crore of investment[13]
state-maharashtra-2022-shinde / Eknath ShindeShiv Sena2022Fresh Dharavi tender; Adani Properties highest bidder at Rs 5,069 crore[11]
state-west-bengal-2011-mamata / Mamata BanerjeeAITC2022Letter of award for Tajpur port to Adani Ports and SEZ[15]
Andhra Pradesh government / Y. S. Jagan Mohan ReddyYSRCP20217 GW solar power purchase via SECI (allegation of payments disputed)[16]
Telangana government / A. Revanth ReddyINC2024-10-18 to 2024-11-25Rs 100 crore donation announced; declined, no funds transferred[10]
Source: [1]: APSEZ scales record high after signing agreement for Vizhinjam port development project (seen in search results, not opened; fetch returned 403) [2]: Vizhinjam International Seaport: India's 1st automated deep-sea port [3]: Thiruvananthapuram airport privatisation: Hardeep Singh Puri says Kerala already running two airports under PPP model (seen in search results, not opened) [4]: Centre approves proposal for leasing out Thiruvananthapuram, 2 other airports (seen in search results, not opened) [5]: CCEA approves hike in natural gas price to $8.4 per mmBtu (seen in search results, not opened) [7]: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal takes on Ambani over price-fixing (seen in search results, not opened) [8]: Centre for PIL & Ors v. Union of India & Ors, 2 February 2012 (opened via Indian Kanoon; the page records the grant of licences to 122 applicants and a direction for a CBI investigation; the quashing and the 10 January 2008 cut-off are taken from media summaries) [9]: Supreme Court cancels allotment of 214 coal blocks (seen in search results, not opened) [10]: CM Revanth rejects Adani's Rs 100 cr donation for university citing controversies [11]: Dharavi slum redevelopment project: Adani, fresh tender, Maharashtra government (seen in search results, not opened) [13]: Adani, Amit Shah's son are welcome to invest in Rajasthan, says Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (seen in search results, not opened) [14]: Adani group inks pact to set up 10k MW solar park, 15 June 2015 (seen in search results, not opened) [15]: Behind Tajpur port relocation (seen in search results, not opened) [16]: TDP holds press meet on Adani indictments, alleges Jagan took kickbacks for energy deals (seen in search results, not opened) [18]: Adani group got land at cheapest rates in Modi's Gujarat (seen in search results, not opened) [20]: Manohar Lal Sharma v. Principal Secretary & Others, 25 August 2014 (opened via Indian Kanoon; declaration of illegality, consequences left to a further hearing) [21]: List of chief ministers of Rajasthan (opened; Vasundhara Raje, BJP, 13 December 2013 to 17 December 2018)

What these facts do not show

  • That the pattern of dealings establishes why any decision was made, or that any approval, tender or contract was or was not on the merits; the table records dates and public statements, not motives.
  • How any future government of any party would act towards these groups.
  • A complete list: Tamil Nadu (DMK/AIADMK), Karnataka, Odisha (BJD), Punjab (AAP), the UPA-era bank credit to infrastructure groups, the 1998-2004 NDA decisions, Reliance's Jio telecom approvals and defence manufacturing awards were requested but are not documented here because no source was verified for them within the research budget.
  • Balance between groups: 11 of the 16 rows concern the Adani group and 3 concern Reliance (gas pricing); Reliance's telecom, retail and refining dealings are not covered, so the table does not compare the two groups like for like.
  • That equal numbers of rows for each party reflect equal numbers of dealings; the search was limited and a rows-per-party count is not a measure of any party's behaviour.
  • Legal outcomes of pending matters (the Dharavi appeal and the Kerala port and airport disputes; the status of the US case on Adani is in the Adani Group dossier).

Sources

Numbers in square brackets refer to this list. Types: primary, official data and court sources are weighed above media and academic ones.

Facts as of . Last reviewed .Report an error.

Printed from https://indiareview.pages.dev/dossiers/big-business-and-governments-record/. Facts as of 12 Oct 2026; check the sources for later developments.