The notorious Gupta family is back in the headlines, but this time, the drama has shifted from South Africa to India. Ajay Gupta and his brother-in-law Anil Gupta have been arrested in Dehradun, India.
Ajay and Anil Gupta have been taken into custody after the tragic suicide of a prominent builder named Satyendra Singh Sahni. This arrest, widely reported by Indian media, stems from Sahni’s suicide note, which accuses the Guptas of threats and coercion over financial disputes related to a partnership project.
This accusation was backed up by Sahni’s son, Ranvir Sahni, who stated that his father was forced to transfer ownership of his construction companies to the Guptas under duress. This Gupta duo are now facing criminal charges for abetment to suicide.
But don’t get confused! Ajay and Anil are not the same as Atul and Rajesh Gupta, who are still on the run and wanted in South Africa for their starring roles in the state capture scandal.
For those needing a refresher, Ajay Gupta and his brothers Atul and Rajesh were key figures in South Africa’s state capture scandal. Their cosy relationship with former President Jacob Zuma allowed them to secure lucrative government contracts and divert public funds. Ajay Gupta is not wanted in South Africa at this stage, but the same can not be said for Atul and Rajesh.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wait, aren’t Ajay and his brothers supposed to be hiding out in some luxury villa in Dubai?” Well, you’d be right! But Ajay’s little detour to India stirred things up.
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola quickly clarified that the Guptas arrested in India are not Rajesh and Atul, who are wanted in South Africa for their roles in the state capture scandal. These two brothers have been on the run since 2016, following the termination of their bank accounts in South Africa and the subsequent public outcry against their corrupt activities. (Remember #ZuptaMustFall).
So, what does this arrest mean for the South African warrants? In short, not much.
The South African government has been trying to extradite Rajesh and Atul from Dubai for years with no luck. South Africa has even issued arrest warrants and secured Interpol Red Notices for Rajesh and Atul Gupta. Despite this and their arrest in Dubai in June 2022, the UAE rejected South Africa’s extradition request earlier this year, leaving their whereabouts uncertain.
Reports suggest they might be in Switzerland…or the Central African Republic, Cameroon, or Vanuatu.
Meanwhile, Ajay’s arrest in India adds another twist to this complex saga. The Justice Department is now chatting with their counterparts in India to see if there’s any way to tie this latest drama to their ongoing pursuit of the rest of the Gupta clan.
For now, Ajay and Anil Gupta are in custody in an Indian jail, facing charges of abetment to suicide. But who knows, maybe this latest twist will finally help connect the dots.
