Read ... The story of Saharanpur-based Gupta Brothers, booming business in South Africa

Abu Dhabi, Ta. 07 June 2022, Tuesday

The South African government said on Monday it had arrested the Gupta brothers of Indian descent in the United Arab Emirates, who were at the center of political corruption during the rule of former President Jacob Zuma. Both brothers were arrested in Dubai. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. The arrests come almost a year after Interpol issued a notice to the Gupta brothers in July last year.

The Gupta brothers are accused of using their ties to former South African President Jacob Zuma to gain economic advantage and influence appointments to higher positions. However, the Gupta brothers have denied the allegations.

Officials say the Gupta family was moving to Dubai in 2018 after a scandal involving billions of rand (South African currency) in government-affiliated organizations in South Africa. South Africa's Department of Justice and Correctional Services said in a statement that the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services confirmed that it had received information from UAE ED officials that fugitives Rajesh and Atul Gupta had been arrested on Monday. Further action is being discussed between the various enforcement agencies in the UAE and South Africa, the department said. The South African government will continue to cooperate with the UAE.

Interpol issued a red corner notice

Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice against the fugitive public Gupta brothers by the US and Britain. Red Corner notices are issued globally to alert the ED for the arrest of individuals who have long been wanted.

The Gupta family left South Africa in 2018. Following widespread protests that year, the African National Congress ousted Zuma and appointed Cyril Ramphosa as acting president.

Earlier, South Africa had appealed to the United Nations to help bring the accused back to South Africa after talks with the UAE over the arrest of the Gupta brothers failed due to lack of extradition treaty between the two countries. Immediately after the treaty was ratified in June 2021, South Africa began the process of requesting the extradition of the Gupta brothers.

Some witnesses testified that the Gupta brothers played a role in the major scandals and appointments of cabinet ministers during Zuma's nine-year tenure as president of South Africa.

Illegal earnings of 15 billion rand

Van Duvenhage, chief executive officer of the organization that cracked down on tax evasion, said his investigation revealed that the Gupta brothers had illegally earned about 15 billion rand before fleeing the country.

The Gupta family, originally from Saharanpur, India, arrived in South Africa in the early 1990's and opened a shoe store. He soon expanded his business to include IT, media and mining companies, most of which have now sold out or closed down.

Bank of Baroda was also named in the scam. It was reported that the bank had helped the Gupta brothers by opening an account at a time when all South African banks had stopped dealing with the family. BOB later closed its South Africa branch citing a global decline in operations.