NGO That Targeted Adani Group Is A Biden Stooge?

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project's financial support from the US government, including substantial contributions from the Biden administration, have raised concerns over potential bias in its reporting. The US provides significant funding to the NGO, which has an obligation to focus on countries like Russia and Venezuela, both of which are seen as adversaries by Washington, according to an investigative report. This funding influence could shape OCCRP’s investigative priorities, potentially distorting its coverage of global affairs, including that of Adani Group.

OCCRP was established with financial backing from the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Currently, the US government funds around half of the OCCRP’s budget and retains the power to veto key personnel appointments, including Drew Sullivan, the organisation's co-founder. Despite receiving substantial support from the US Department of State and the US Agency for International Development, OCCRP does not fully disclose the extent of this funding or its implications to the public, media partners, or journalists, according to a French-based news media firm Mediapart’s investigative article titled “The hidden links between a giant of investigative journalism and the US government.”

Furthermore, the US government’s financial support is never mentioned in OCCRP’s published articles, the article noted.

Since its creation, OCCRP has received at least 47 million dollars from the US government. Additionally, the NGO has secured $1.1 million from the European Union and $14 million from six European countries, including Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, and France, the report said, adding that the US Department of State also contributed $173,324 to the OCCRP for a mission aimed at tackling corruption in Venezuela, a country whose autocratic leader, Nicolás Maduro, is an adversary of the US.

In August 2023, Adani Group responded to OCCRP’s claims of hidden foreign investors by strongly rejecting the allegations. The company pointed out that an independent adjudicating authority and an appellate tribunal had both confirmed that the transactions in question were lawful, with no over-valuation. Adani Group stressed that all its business activities were fully compliant with applicable laws, highlighting its commitment to transparency and legal integrity.

Adani Group’s legal victories demonstrate that its operations remain above reproach. The independent verification of its transactions further underscores Adani Group’s adherence to regulatory standards.

This stands in contrast to the OCCRP, whose reliance on US government funding raises questions about the impartiality of its investigative efforts, the investigative report noted.

While OCCRP focuses much of its coverage on countries like Russia and Venezuela, its financial ties to the US government could influence its reporting priorities, limiting its objectivity. In contrast, Adani Group’s success in clearing its name from unfounded allegations reflects its strong commitment to transparency and compliance with the law.