(Updates with moves by Bangladesh and US government bodies, CFO

statement)

BENGALURU, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Indian billionaire Gautam

Adani has been indicted by U.S. prosecutors for his alleged role

in a $265 million scheme to bribe Indian officials, sending

shockwaves across his eponymous ports-to-soybeans business

conglomerate.

Here is what you need to know about the U.S. indictment.

THE MAJOR U.S. INDICTMENT

Gautam Adani, one of world's richest people, faces his biggest

challenge after being charged with seven others for alleged

bribery related to power supply deals from energy projects in

India, with U.S. authorities calling it "The Corrupt Solar

Project".

Adani Group, which runs several key infrastructure projects

across the globe, says the allegations are baseless and has

vowed to seek "all possible legal recourse".

The group's CFO has said the indictment is linked to one Adani

Green Energy contract that makes up some 10% of the unit's

business.

There is also a growing spotlight on Sagar Adani, a

millennial scion of the company who kept track of hundreds of

millions of dollars of alleged bribes to Indian officials, in

notes the prosecutors described as "bribe notes".

The alleged bribes caught the attention of U.S. authorities when

Adani's companies were raising funds from U.S.-based investors

in transactions starting in 2021.

DISCLOSURE ISSUES, STOCK ROUT AND FALLOUT

The scandal has also raised concerns about market and public

disclosure lapses by Adani Group, with prosecutors alleging the

company issued false statements earlier this year related to its

knowledge of the U.S. investigation.

The U.S. indictment has kept Adani Group's debt and equity under

pressure. Its dollar bond prices have fallen to almost a

one-year low.

The indictment appears to now have ramifications

across the globe, including news that some bankers are

considering pausing fresh lending to the group.

Kenya has

ordered the cancellation of Adani infrastructure deals worth

over $2.5 billion and a U.S. development agency is 'assessing

ramifications' on a Sri Lanka Adani port project it had agreed

to finance. In Bangladesh, a government panel has sought legal

help for its investigation of power deals including one with

Adani.

Back in India, opposition parties have demanded a probe

into allegations of wrongdoing and said they would raise the

issue in parliament.

WHAT NEXT FOR ADANI, LEGAL OPTIONS

A key question is what is next for Gautam Adani? He is charged

with foreign bribery, securities fraud, securities fraud

conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy.

Adani has not been arrested and his whereabouts are unknown,

though he is believed to be in India.

A trial could still be a long way off, even if Adani is

extradited or surrenders in the U.S.

If convicted, Adani could face decades in prison as well as

monetary penalties, though any sentence would ultimately be up

to the judge overseeing the case.

For now, Adani has to answer U.S. SEC allegations within 21

days, a court directive states.