QAANITAH HUNTER: How the Guptas flew the coop
'When we finalised the matter in November, they sat on the case until February'
The fight between the Hawks and the NPA over state capture investigations has blown the lid on how the Hawks were forced not to announce a warrant of arrest for Atul Gupta and his brother Rajesh in a bid to lure them back into the country. Times Select has it on good authority that a warrant of arrest was issued for Atul and Rajesh, specifically in relation to the Estina Dairy Project in the Free State, alongside a Chinese businesswoman. But, because of the NPA’s delay in giving the arrests a go-ahead, the pair had already left the country for Dubai and India, sources said.Hawks investigators then decided that they would instead publicise the warrant of arrest for Ajay Gupta, their brother, in the hope that the duo would believe they were not wanted and could return to South Africa where they will face arrest for fraud and corruption in relation to the Estina project. Ajay is wanted over his alleged bribery offer to former deputy Finance minister Mcebisi Jonas in 2015, and is a fugi...
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