Adani's rise and controversies: A tale of ambition and shadows

Police officers tries to contol some of the stranded passengers at JKIA after aviation workers staged a strike over contraversial take over by a foreign investor on September 11, 2024. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Gautam Adani, the billionaire head of the Adani Group, epitomises both ambition and controversy.

His spectacular rise from a modest commodities trader to one of Asia’s wealthiest individuals is remarkable, yet it is accompanied by significant scrutiny and allegations.

Born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in 1962, Adani, a Jain adherent, started his journey in business with humble beginnings. His father, Shantilal Adani, was a textile merchant, and his mother, Shanta Adani, supported the family’s modest lifestyle.