Gupta brothers arrested in India over builder’s suicide

Controversial businessmen Ajay Gupta and Anil Gupta were arrested on Friday in India due to their alleged connection to the death of a well-known builder in Dehradun.

The Guptas were arrested from their home in the Dalanwala area of Dehradun for allegedly abetting the suicide of 52-year-old Satyendra Singh Sahni. They were expected to appear in court yesterday, May 25.

According to the Times of India, police stated that Sahni mentioned in his suicide note that the Guptas had been threatening him over financial matters related to a partnership project.

The Times of India reported that the builder named the two in the note before he plunged to his death from the terrace of a seven-storey apartment building on Friday morning.

Speaking from the side lines the ANC’s Siyanqoba rally in Johannesburg yesterday, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said the Gupta brothers reported to have been arrested in India are not the ones for who the South African government has obtained warrants of arrest.

Amabungane published a photo alleged to be of the two men arrested in India, with one strongly resembling Ajay Gupta.

The centre for investigative journalism confirmed that the men arrested in India are Ajay Kumar Gupta, born in 1966, and Anil Kumar Gupta, born in 1963 via police records and also that Ajay is the same person implicated in the Gupta-leaks by cross-referencing passport copies obtained from the leaked documents.

Department of Justice spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told the media that although the South African warrants were for Rajesh and Atul Gupta, they are currently engaging with the High Commissioner in India.

Times Live reported that during their appearance in court, the matter was remanded for 14 days and that Guptas would most likely stay behind bars for the next two weeks.