Rajesh and Atul Gupta were arrested in Dubai more than four months after Interpol issued a red card for fraud and money laundering. The brothers fled with R24.9 million.
The confirmation of the arrest was done by News24. According to News24, the Gupta brothers were arrested by the Dubai Police’s Criminal Investigation Department. The National Prosecuting Authority has yet to verify them.
News: What Are Atul and Rajesh Gupta Arrested For?
Interpol had issued red notices for Atul and Rajesh Gupta – two of three Gupta brothers from India – who fled South Africa and their families during an investigation into allegations that they stole billions of dollars from state-owned companies.
Interpol issued a red notice for the two brothers on February 28. They were wanted for widespread graft, fraud and money laundering.
However, Interpol had rejected a request from the South African government to issue red flags against their wives, Arthi and Chetali Gupta.
The Red Notice is a warning to all Interpol member states that someone is a wanted refugee, but it does not match the warrant for arrest. However, it reinforces the issue of a country negotiating the repatriation of wanted criminals to another province.
Gupta Brothers Charges, Where Are They Today?
On Monday, the South African government said that law enforcement authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had arrested Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta. The Gupta brothers were good friends of former President Jacob Zuma.
They were accused in South Africa of using their relationship with Zuma to profit financially and influence senior appointments. However, they have kept denying these accusations about them.
Arrest Of Gupta Brothers
Last year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to South Africa said an agreement between South Africa and that country on legal assistance in criminal matters and repatriation was signed in 2018.
The statement came just days after the Prosecution Service said it had requested Interpol to issue a warrant for the Guptas’ deportation to South Africa to face fraud and money laundering charges.
The South African government issued a warrant for the arrest of the Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh, their wives, Chetali and Arti, and several business associates.
More On Gupta Family
The Gupta family is a wealthy Indian-born family whose prominent members are Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh Gupta. The family owns a business empire that includes computers, media, and mines in South Africa.
The family has become a symbol of corruption in South Africa and has been banned by many countries for their activities.
The family moved from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh to South Africa in 1993 to establish Sahara Computers. The family was based on the Sahara Estate in Saxonwold, Johannesburg.
They moved from South Africa to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in 2016. Interpol was looking for Atul and Rajesh Gupta because of a fraud and money laundering case. The brothers were reportedly arrested in Dubai on June 6, 2022.