Ajay Gupta, the eldest of the embattled Gupta brothers accused of “state capture” in South Africa, was reportedly spotted in Dubai on April 4 by a South African businessman.
The businessman Justin van Pletzen was greeted by a relaxed Gupta outside what is thought to be the Indian consulate, Huffington Post Africa reported. Gupta told Pletzen that he would return to South Africa after he receives a response from the authorities, the report quoted the businessman as saying. The encounter was filmed by Pletzen, who posted it on his Facebook page, saying, “Just bumped into AJ Gupta in Dubai … and if it wasn’t for the law here I would have dropped him.”
In the video, Pletzen is heard telling Gupta that South Africa is looking for him. “The day they give a reply, I’ll go there,” Gupta replies.
“Please share this widely so that we can get him back to SA so he can face the music,” Van Pletzen further wrote.
Meanwhile, South African elite police unit, Hawks, have reiterated their call to Ajay Gupta to hand himself over and says they have issued a warrant for the same, eNCA.com reported.
As per the Hawks, Ajay Gupta is a fugitive from justice after he failed to turn himself in to the authorities in February.
Hangwani Mulaudzi, the spokesperson of the Hawks unit, told eNCA.com that they are aware of his whereabouts and that there are many outstanding matters related to their investigation of the Gupta brothers. He added that Gupta is wanted for charges that aren’t related to the Estina Dairy farm case. “He is more than aware that we are looking for him. Our advice to his lawyers was that he should hand himself over. He didn’t do that. That status quo stands. We’re not worried,” the website quoted him as saying.
Meanwhile, the Gupta brothers missed another deadline to appear before the tax authorities in India on March 26. They were summoned to explain how they amassed several properties in the country. The authorities also suspect that they brought “illicit” money into India. Last month, the brothers sent their accountant to face the tax authorities and they were granted a 10-day extension.
On March 6, tax authorities raided Guptas’ properties in Dehradun, Saharanpur and the National Capital Region, and 125 Gupta-linked properties were identified during the raids, the Jagran reported.
The Gupta family’s luxury jet, a Bombardier Global 6000, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, was grounded by a Johannesburg court on March 19. The family was given 15 days to hand over the jet. The court also “interdicted and restrained” the family from using and possessing the aircraft.
The Gupta family has been accused of corruption and influenced peddling due to their closeness to former South African president Jacob Zuma, who resigned following a raid at the Guptas’ home by the Hawks on Feb. 14, and pressure from the ruling party, the African National Congress.