Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has launched a fresh attack on the Adani Group, accusing the conglomerate of “lying brazenly” to regulatory stock exchanges regarding its plans to enter the aviation sector. Taking to social media, the lawmaker shared a purported letter dated June 4 from Adani Airports to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). In the document, the conglomerate requested a regulatory waiver from the 2006 airport privatization agreement to allow Adani Defence & Aerospace or its affiliates to directly or indirectly establish, acquire, own, or control a scheduled airline in India.
The controversy arises from an alleged contradiction with a subsequent stock exchange disclosure made on July 24 by Adani Enterprises. In its BSE and NSE filings, the company denied media reports claiming it planned to launch an airline. Moitra pointed out that while the group formally informed stock exchanges that it had no airline launch plans, its letter to the AAI explicitly highlighted its evaluation of the airline business as a “natural extension” of its aviation ecosystem, emphasizing a focus on regional connectivity and bridging transport gaps across Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
In its communication to the AAI, Adani Group argued that allowing airport operators to run airlines would enhance industry competition, reduce market concentration risks, and align with federal policy objectives. However, current regulatory frameworks restrict airport operators from holding controlling stakes in scheduled airlines to prevent conflict of interest. While the Adani Group previously asserted that its regulatory filings reflect its standard operational disclosures, the revelation has sparked fresh scrutiny over corporate transparency and governance compliance across India’s financial markets.