New York, July 4 -- The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has told a federal judge that the criminal case against Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and other defendants "should never have been brought," urging the court to permanently dismiss all charges while arguing that the prosecution was legally weak, largely centred on India, and no longer served the interests of justice.

In a detailed filing submitted to the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the DOJ defended its earlier request to dismiss the case with prejudice after the court sought a fuller explanation for the move. The department said that after an extensive review, "the decision to seek dismissal was not a close call."

The DOJ said the case was overwhelmin...