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New Delhi: Saharanpur’s “Gupta brothers” (brothers) are notorious from South Africa to America and England. One of these brothers who rose from poverty to earn immense wealth was arrested by Dehradun police yesterday. The power of the sons of a ration shop owner can be gauged from the fact that because of them, a President of South Africa had to lose his position. The Interpol police had to go after them. Even the governments of America and England have put all three brothers in the black list. After listening to the story of these brothers, everyone gets confused whether they are businessmen or criminals?
Who are the Gupta brothers?
Shivkumar Gupta, who lives in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has three sons. Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta. The Gupta family went to South Africa in the early 1990s. Here he opened a shoe shop. Soon he expanded to include IT, media and mining companies, most of which have now been sold or closed. Still, he has immense wealth.
There was a lot of uproar in South Africa and India over the arrangements made for the marriage of the sons and daughters of the Gupta brothers. Recently, when the Income Tax Department raided their residences in Saharanpur and Uttarakhand, the officials were also surprised to see their pomp and show.
Why was Ajay Gupta arrested?
Satindra Singh alias Baba Sahni, a well-known builder of Dehradun, allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the eighth floor of a building on 24 May 2024. Officials said that on the basis of the complaint given by Ranveer Singh, son of the deceased Baba Sahni (59) and the suicide note of the builder before committing suicide, the police have registered a case against Anil Gupta and Ajay Gupta, accused in the case, and arrested them. It is said that Anil Gupta is Ajay Gupta’s brother-in-law. The builder’s son Ranveer Singh also said in his complaint that Ajay and Anil had filed a false complaint against his father in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh and were threatening Sahni to transfer both his companies in their name or else they would implicate him and his son-in-law in a false case. The police registered a case against both of them under section 306 and arrested them.
Where are Atul and Rajesh?
The South African government had said on 7 June 2022 that law enforcement officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have arrested Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta of the Gupta family. It is not clear why the third brother Ajay was not arrested?
South Africa controversy?
The Gupta brothers are accused of using their relationship with former President Jacob Zuma in South Africa for financial gain and influencing senior appointments. However, they have denied these allegations. Officials said that in 2018, after looting billions of rands (South African currency) from parastatal institutions in South Africa, the Gupta family moved to Dubai.
Why was the red notice issued?
Red notices are issued for fugitives to alert legal agencies globally. The Gupta family fled from South Africa in 2018. After which a red notice was issued against them. Earlier, South Africa had appealed to the United Nations to bring the Gupta brothers back to South Africa. But there was no extradition treaty between the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. The treaty was ratified in June 2021, after which South Africa requested their extradition.
