New York: The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approached a federal court in New York seeking permission to use alternative methods to serve summons and complaint on Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani in a civil securities enforcement case, according to court filings dated January 21, 2026.
In a notice filed before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the SEC said it will move the court for an order under Rule 4(f) of the US Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which allows for alternative modes of service in cases involving defendants located outside the United States. The matter is listed before Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis, with the hearing date to be set by the court.
The filing does not go into the merits of the underlying allegations but is procedural in nature, aimed at enabling the regulator to formally serve legal papers on the defendants through non-traditional means permitted by law when standard service channels face challenges.
The case, filed by the SEC against Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani, forms part of the US regulator’s broader enforcement action relating to alleged violations of US securities laws. Seeking alternative service is a common step in cross-border litigation, particularly where defendants reside outside US jurisdiction.
The SEC said the motion is supported by a memorandum of law and a declaration filed by Christopher M. Colorado of the SEC’s New York Regional Office, along with accompanying exhibits. The regulator is seeking the court’s approval before proceeding with such service methods.
The development underscores the procedural complexities involved in international securities enforcement cases and signals that the US regulator is moving ahead to advance the litigation process. Further directions will depend on the court’s ruling on the SEC’s application.