Dubai Police arrest Gupta brothers wanted by South Africa over money laundering charges
Arrest comes after South African authorities issue red-corner notice through Interpol
Dubai: Dubai Police have arrested two brothers wanted by South Africa for money laundering charges.
The brothers, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, were arrested after a red-corner notice was issued by South African authorities through the Interpol.
Dubai Police are coordinating with South African authorities to complete the extradition procedures for the arrested Gupta duo.
“The arrest reflects the continuous efforts by UAE in combating money laundering crimes through cooperation between the competent authorities,” Dubai Police said in a statement posted on Twitter.
The brothers were accused in South Africa of profiteering through close links with former South African president Jacob Zuma and exerting unfair influence.
Both Atul and Rajesh were accused of paying bribes in order to win lucrative state contracts and influence powerful government appointments in South Africa.
The Gupta family had moved from India to South Africa in 1993.
They also faced charges of money laundering in India, where tax officials raided properties belonging to them in 2018 in multiple cities, including their company office in the capital New Delhi.
Many of the most serious corruption allegations levelled against the Indian-born brothers focus on their relationship with Zuma, who was president of South Africa from 2009 until he was forced to step down amid a storm of corruption allegations, nine years later.
The Gupta family is accused of using their close links with Zuma to weild enormous political clout across all levels of South African government — winning business contracts, influencing high-profile government officials and misappropriating state funds.
Zuma, along with the Guptas, have denied the allegations.
After the brothers fled the country, South Africa worked out an extradition treaty with the UAE in 2021.
— With inputs from agencies