New Delhi: Indian-origin Gupta brothers, who once held sway in South Africa with their enormous economic clout, were arrested by the law enforcement agencies in the UAE on Tuesday. The Gupta clan includes Rajesh Gupta, Atul Gupta. However, the third brother Ajay Gupta remains off the hook.
The Gupta brothers have been accused of manipulating & influencing the government machinery in South Africa by exploiting their close links with former President Jacob Zumba. The brothers have been accused of bribing the government officials to win lucrative contracts and also influencing appointment of senior govt officers for facilitating their business dealings.
Now, the talks are on for their extradition from UAE to South Africa, authorities said. The brothers had fled South Africa after probe began into graft charges involving them and were residing in UAE since 2018.
Gupta brothers shifted to South Africa in 1993
The Gupta brothers, hailing from Uttar Pradesh moved to South Africa in 1993. Currently at the centre of corruption & scam in South Africa, they have no good record in India. Cases of money laundering are lodged against them here and raids were also conducted at their properties in 2018.
The Guptas fled to South Africa and built a sprawling business empire in mining, computer technology & also media. Today, they are ranked among Top 10 richest persons in South Africa.
Why they fled South Africa
The Gupta brothers accused of misappropriation of state funds fled to UAE, however, President Zumba got indicted in enquiry and was arrested on charges of corruption.
Interpol had issued also issued red notices to Gupta brothers following uproar in South Africa in 2018, leading to Zumba’s arrest and Cyril Ramaphosa replacing him as the President.
