US prosecutors are investigating whether industrialist Gautam Adani's companies violated US sanctions by importing Iranian petrochemical products into India through Gujarat's Mundra port, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. However, the Adani Group categorically rejected any involvement in trade regarding Iranian LPG and said it was not aware of any investigation on the same.
An investigation by the US-based publication found tankers travelling between Mundra port, which is operated by the Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, and the Persian Gulf, the report said, adding that it exhibited traits experts say are common for ships evading sanctions.
The US Justice Department was reviewing the activities of several LPG tankers used to ship cargoes to Adani Enterprises, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
In response, a spokesperson for the Adani Group said, "Adani categorically denies any deliberate engagement in sanctions evasion or trade involving Iranian-origin LPG. Further, we are not aware of any investigation by US authorities on this subject."
Last month, US President Donald Trump said all purchases of Iranian oil or petrochemical products should stop and threatened to impose secondary sanctions on countries buying oil from the Islamic Republic.
The development came after US authorities prosecuted the 62-year-old industrialist and his nephew, Sagar Adani, in November last year, alleging that they paid bribes to secure power supply contracts, and misled American investors during fundraising in the US.
Adani Group had called the allegations "baseless" and vowed to seek "all possible legal recourse".
