Gupta brothers deny “malicious” fugitive from justice claims

With South Africans and police across the country frantically trying to find out where the Guptas are, the family’s lawyer has issued a statement on the brothers’ behalf. Unsurprisingly, the Guptas still say they are doing nothing wrong.

After last week’s raid on the Gupta’s Saxonwold home, multiple arrests were made but there was no sign of Ajay Gupta. The Hawks later confirmed that Ajay’s lawyer had agreed for him to hand himself over to authorities but surprise surprise, he didn’t turn up. The Gupta family lawyer sat down for an interview with eNCA on Wednesday.

The Hawks then went public again as they announced that Ajay was now a “fugitive from justice”.

The Gupta lawyer, on the other hand, now says the Hawks are just plain wrong. Even going as far as calling the fugitive claims “malicious, misleading and simply incorrect”. The family lawyer also confirmed that the brothers were “not in the country” when the arrests happened.

In the statement, the brothers are now demanding that the Police provide “proof” that an arrest warrant was issued for Ajay. The family lawyer then goes on to say that there is “major uncertainty” regarding what Ajay would have been arrested for.

eNCA legal journalist Karyn Maughan went on air to report back on the interview.

The #Gupta brothers deny that they are fugitives from justice, with their lawyer calling such claims from police "malicious, misleading and simply incorrect". @karynmaughan tells you more. Courtesy #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/MNaAIFVgrN

— eNCA (@eNCA) February 21, 2018

The Hawks have already responded to the lawyer’s claims, saying that there is no legal basis for the warrant to be handed over to the lawyer.

Hawks are adamant that there is a warrant for arrest for #AjayGupta, but deny there is legal basis for his lawyer to demand that it handed over to him.
"This warrant if for Ajay, not the lawyer."

— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) February 21, 2018

So while Ajay may still be on the run according to the Hawks, authorities are not going to be launching extradition proceedings for Ajay just yet.

While this may sound odd, the Hawks say they are holding off for now as they may still have more charges that they wish to bring against Ajay. Once extradition proceedings begin, the accused can only be charged and do time for the specific charges already laid at the time.

The Hawks say their investigation into Ajay Gupta is continuing.