Gupta brothers arrested in India for alleged involvement in builder's death

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

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

According to Times of Indiapolice said Sahni had mentioned in his suicide note that the Guptas had threatened him over financial matters related to a partnership project.

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The Times of India reported that the builder named the two men in the note before plunging to their deaths from the terrace of a seven-story building on Friday morning.

According to the Times of India, Sahni sent the suicide note to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, accusing the Guptas of “coercion and interference in his projects”.

Police sources told the publication that Sahni accused the two men of “threatening him and his business partner to hand over two major construction projects in the city.”

This was reflected in both the suicide note and the complaint filed by the deceased builder's son Ranvir Sahni.

“My father was constantly threatened by Ajay Gupta, son of Shiv Gupta, and Anil Gupta, son of Shyam Lal Gupta, residents of Nehru Colony of Dalanwala, over financial matters. A written complaint was lodged with the local police on May 19, 2023 regarding threats, harassment, intimidation and blackmail by the Gupta brothers,” Ranvir said.

Ranvir added, “Ajay Gupta and Anil Gupta filed a false complaint with the Senior Superintendent of Police, Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) without any basis. As a result, my father was summoned several times by the Saharapur police.

According to the Times of India, Sahni's suicide note indicated that the Guptas had been threatening him for some time, leading him to commit suicide.

The builder mentioned that the two businessmen had put pressure on him on financial issues related to a partnership project.

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Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh told The Times of India that there was prima facie evidence to arrest the two businessmen.

“Prima facie, the Gupta brothers have been arrested due to their involvement in this case. Both will be produced in court on Saturday,” he said.

According to the Times of India, the Guptas and their family fled the country in 2018 for the United Arab Emirates after law enforcement stepped up investigations into allegations of state capture.

Interpol then issued red notices for the Guptas early last year. In June 2022, Rajesh and Atul Gupta were arrested in Dubai in connection with the Nulane Investment fraud and money laundering case worth R24.9 million.

Gupta brothers arrested in India are not Ajay and Atul

Furthermore, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola clarified on Saturday that the Gupta brothers who were reportedly arrested in India are not those for whom the South African government has obtained arrest warrants.

Lamola was speaking at a brief press briefing at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg during the ANC's Siyanqoba rally.

“Some media are reporting the arrest of members of the Gupta family in India. We want to clarify this for the world. According to the information we have verified by our High Commissioner in India, the members of the Gupta family who have been arrested are not those listed in the arrest warrant issued by South Africa and according to the red notice issued by Interpol… It's not Ajay. and Atul Gupta who were arrested.

“We would also like to confirm that the Interpol Red Notice is still valid worldwide. Wherever they (the Gupta brothers) are in the world, every state has a duty to stop them,” Lamola said.