BHUBANESWAR: In a recent court filing, the US Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that Adani Green’s internal documents show huge kickbacks were made or committed to Odisha govt officials to influence decisions regarding a power supply agreement.
The SEC complaint read, “According to Adani Green’s records, a payment equal to hundreds of thousands of dollars was paid or promised to govt officials in Odisha to cause Odisha to enter into a power supply agreement with SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) for purchase of 500 MW of power.”
“Consistent with Adani Green’s records, SECI announced its first power supply agreement related to the manufacturing linked projects in July 2021, pursuant to which Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco) agreed to buy 500 MW of capacity from SECI,” the complaint said.
As per Gridco’s annual report, during 2022-23 it had executed two PSAs with SECI towards procurement of a total of 400 MW of wind capacity and three power purchase agreements for the procurement of 410 MW of solar capacity to meet future renewable purchase obligation target. In addition, one PSA was executed with SECI in June 2023 for 600 MW of wind power capacity.
While state law minister Prithivirraj Harichadan said agencies will probe the charges, a govt official said Gridco, a bulk power supplier, independently signs PPAs with power producers such as NTPC, NHPC and SECI to meet RPO obligations after approval from Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission. “Gridco as such has no option to know who is the (private) developer at back end of SECI,” official said.
Despite repeated attempts, Gridco MD Trilocan Panda did not respond to phone calls or messages.