Nov 28 (Reuters) - The former chief minister of India's

Andhra Pradesh state refuted on Thursday bribery allegations and

any involvement by the Adani Group in the state government's

purchase of solar power while he was in power.

In his first comments after facing allegations of

corruption, Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed any state involvement

with Adani in the deal. He said the agreement was between the

government and the Solar Energy Corporation of India, which

awards power-supply contracts to companies, and no third party.

"Adani meeting me is nothing out of ordinary. He would have

met me several times during my tenure. He has got ongoing

projects in Andhra Pradesh," Reddy said in a press briefing.

Reuters earlier reported that the southern state is likely

to suspend a power-purchase deal linked to the Adani Group due

to Gautam Adani's indictment in the U.S., and will ask the SECI

and the federal government to investigate the charges.

U.S. authorities have accused Gautam Adani, his nephew and

executive director Sagar Adani and managing director of Adani

Green, Vneet S. Jaain, of being part of a scheme to pay bribes

of $265 million to secure Indian power-supply contracts, and

misleading U.S. investors during fund raises there.

Most of the alleged bribes - $228 million - were paid to a

government official to entice Andhra Pradesh's state

electricity-distribution companies to agree to purchase power,

the U.S. indictment said.

Adani Group has denied all allegations made by the U.S.

Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission

as "baseless" and said it was fully compliant with all laws.