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Gupta brothers confident their names will be cleared

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Friends and associates of the Gupta brothers have confirmed to the SABC that Ajay Gupta is currently in India for a brief visit.  He landed in New Delhi over the weekend and he’s now reportedly in Saharanpur.

It appears that Ajay Gupta may be in India for a religious pilgrimage. His nephew, Varun Gupta had last week also sought permission from South African officials to travel to India for a religious engagement.

Ajay Gupta’s friends and family members have stated the brothers are extremely religious. Every time they visit their hometown of Saharanpur, they make it a point to visit a temple that they are building there in their father’s memory.

It is not unusual for Ajay Gupta and his brothers to make frequent trips to India. However what makes the visit significant is the fact that this is the first time that one of the Gupta brothers is in the country since Indian tax authorities raided their homes and properties earlier in 2018.

Following the raids, tax authorities have issued several summons to the Guptas asking them to explain the source of allegedly illicit funds.

The Guptas have missed the entire summons so far and have not made a single personal appearance as requested by tax officials.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Minister of home affairs Malusi Gigaba has said that the authorities are working hard to bring back the Guptas and that the brothers are accountable to face charges levied against them.

India does have an extradition treaty with South Africa and the Indian government has said in the past, it will help the President Cyril Ramaphosa government in whatever capacity it can.

SABC has also managed to make contact with a very close associate of Ajay Gupta’s.  He told the SABC that while Ajay Gupta doesn’t want to speak to the media, he is following the SABC’s coverage on the story.

The Guptas also maintain that they are not fugitives and have nothing to hide and that they owe the media no explanations.  They say they are fighting to clear their name in South African courts.

The Gupta associate has told the SABC that the brothers are confident that they will be vindicated soon and their names will eventually cleared of all allegations and that’s when they will come back to South Africa.

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