The Adani Group, whose billionaire president he was charged with fraud by US prosecutorsfaces allegations of racism at its Australian coal facility after an Aboriginal group lodged a complaint with the country’s Human Rights Commission.

Nagana Yarrbayn Wangan & Jagalingou Cultural Custodians in the state of Queensland said it lodged a complaint alleging serious racial discrimination by the entity, Bravus Mining and Resources, earlier this week.

The complaint details how Adani employees attempted to “verbally and physically obstruct and prevent” Aboriginal group members from accessing nearby springs. Adani’s Carmichael coal mine “to perform cultural rites and share cultural knowledge,” the group said in a statement.

“We have endured years of discrimination and slander from Adani and we are not taking it anymore,” Nagana Yarrbayn Senior Cultural Custodian Adrian Burragubba said in the statement.

“Adani has been alerted to their behavior since our solicitors sent a notice of concern last year and they have refused to take action. Legal recourse is the only answer,” he added.

A spokesperson for Bravus “completely denied” the group’s allegations, saying it was an attempt to stop Bravus from telling its side of the story and “sharing facts with the public about our interactions with it and members of its “Board of family””.

It said the mine operated safely and responsibly in accordance with Queensland and Australian legislation and in partnership with the majority group of traditional owners for the mining area under the terms of Indigenous Land Use Agreements and Cultural Heritage Management Plans ratified for more than two years.

He had not received any notification from the Australian Human Rights Commission about a complaint, he added.

A spokesman said the Commission could not confirm whether a complaint had been received until it had been publicly acknowledged by both the complainant and the respondent.

The Aboriginal group said it is seeking compensation, an apology, the removal of offensive social media, the withdrawal of media statements and anti-racism and cultural awareness training for Adani directors, managers and employees.

The Carmichael coal mine battled a seven-year campaign by climate change activists and Aboriginal groups before shipping its first cargo in December 2021.

Shares of Adani Group companies fell for a second straight day on Friday after US prosecutors indicted Chairman Gautam Adani in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme.