As 2025 kicks off Gautam Adani who is regarded as the richest person in the world seems to be confronting a new set of challenges. After facing significant legal charges in the United States his business empire is now under pressure once again casting a shadow over his prospects. Last year Gautam Adani was charged by US prosecutors for allegedly being part of an elaborate scheme to pay USD 265 million (about Rs 2200 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange for the favourable terms for solar power contracts. Now in a blow to the Adani Group the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has decided to cancel its global tender for the procurement of smart meters even though Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) had been selected as the lowest bidder for the project. The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) a state government entity cancelled the smart meter procurement tender citing the high costs quoted by Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) which had been the lowest bidder for one of the four packages covering eight districts including Chennai Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu. The proposed installation of over 8.2 million smart meters was part of a package under the Centre-funded Rs 19000 crore Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). This scheme is designed to deploy smart meters for all electricity connections in the state with the exception of agricultural ones. According to a report by the Indian Express Tangedco officials stated that the prices quoted by AESL to win the tender were unacceptable despite negotiations to bring down the costs. All four tenders issued in August 2023 have been cancelled including those for the remaining three packages covering other districts due to administrative reasons Tangedco sources were quoted as saying by Indian Express. They also mentioned that the government plans to reissue the tenders soon. In 2024 Billionaire Gautam Adani was charged by US prosecutors for allegedly being part of an elaborate scheme to pay USD 265 million (about Rs 2200 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange for the favourable terms for solar power contracts. Meanwhile in November 2024 the Adani Group refuted the alleged bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against the Groups founder and Chairman Gautam Adani his nephew Sagar Adani and MD CEO Adani Green Energy Vineet Jaain in a filing with the stock exchanges. In its filing AGEL has cited the news reporting on the alleged bribery and corruption charges against Adani Officials as Incorrect.