Under-probe Gupta brothers enjoy Z category security in Uttarakhand
The Gupta brothers - Ajay, Rajesh, and Atul - who are currently under investigation in South Africa over their ties with President Zuma, currently enjoy Z category security in Uttarakhand. Zuma recently resigned on 15th February amid a bunch of corruption allegations Ajay, who has an arrest warrant against him in South Africa, is believed to have left South Africa in February's first week.
Who are the Guptas?
The Gupta brothers migrated to South Africa in 1993. Atul Gupta was the first to start a small company, Sahara Computers, which has an annual turnover of $22 million now. The Guptas have since expanded in various sectors including mining, air travel, technology, energy, media.
The Gupta brothers "pay" for Z category security
The Guptas, who "pay" for Z category security, are entitled to four house guards and two personal security officers (PSOs) from the Uttarakhand government. The brothers own high value property in Dehradun and earlier enjoyed 'Y' category security under the Congress government. According to Uttarakhand's Principal Secretary (Home) Anand Bardhan, the BJP government revised and upgraded it to Z category.
Ajay Gupta declared a fugitive from justice in South Africa
A day after President Zuma's resignation, South Africa's chief prosecutor Shaun Abrahams declared Ajay Gupta a "fugitive from justice" after he failed to turn himself in to the police. In October 2017, it was reported that the FBI had also opened an investigation into the nephews of the Guptas, Ashish and Anmol, who are both US citizens, over payments received from a Gupta-linked company.
The whereabouts of Ajay Gupta are unknown as of now
Officials, familiar with the issue, said that Ajay Gupta was in the Guptas' palatial house in Curzon Road, Dehradun at the time of President Zuma's resignation following allegations of corruption. A day later, when he was declared a fugitive from law, Ajay Gupta flew to an unknown location in his helicopter. His whereabouts are unknown as of now.
Many claim Gupta family's interference in governance of South Africa
The Gupta family, based out of the Sahara Estate in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, has had very strong ties to former President Zuma, both personally and through its company Oakbay Investment. Their ties, over the years, have been the subject of extensive international scrutiny and has also caused political controversy, with many claiming corruption, undue influence, and state capture.
Atul Gupta is the seventh richest man in South Africa
Meanwhile, according to 2016 estimates, Atul Gupta was the seventh richest man in South Africa with an estimated personal wealth of around $700 million. Their estate in Johannesburg is estimated to be worth $3.4 million.
