Facebook (InterpolHQ)
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is applying to Interpol to assist them in executing arrest warrants for Atul Gupta and his wife Chetali, as well as Rajesh Gupta and his wife Arti.
The Investigating Directorate head Advocate Hermoine Cronje says they also want arrest warrants issued to Ankit Jain, former Nulane Investment Bank of Baroda account signatory, Ravindra Nath, Ramesh Bhat and Jagdish Parekh, who are all company directors.
Sindisiwe Seboka from the NPA says Iqbal Sharma, a former Transnet Board member and business partner to Gupta associate Salim Essa, and three former senior Free State government officials appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on Wednesday on charges of procurement fraud involving R24million.
This money was allegedly paid by the Free State Department of Agriculture (FSDoA) to Nulane Investment 204 (PTY) LTD, a company owned and controlled by Sharma.
From there, the funds were diverted to a company owned and controlled by the Gupta family.
“The modus operandi used in this case appears to have been replicated in other government departments and projects. It is therefore critical that the evidence gathered in this matter is presented to the court and a verdict obtained expeditiously,” said Seboka.
Seboka added that it is for this reason that prosecutors have decided to proceed separately against the accused currently in the country and those abroad, as the process of arrest and extradition may unduly delay the trial.
