Solly Maphumulo and SAPA
Billionaire media mogul Atul Gupta had charges dropped against him today after police told him to “go back to India”.
Gupta burst into tears on the steps of the Randburg Magistrate’s Court after a brief court appearance where charges of obstruction of justice were dismissed.
The businessman was arrested in Sandton at the weekend after refusing to be searched by police in what authorities have said was a standard roadblock.
“The charges have been withdrawn because there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute,” said Gupta’s lawyer Cliff Alexander.
“He refused to be searched because they didn’t have a search warrant and there was no suspicion of anything. Mr Gupta was treated for xenophobia because they said he must go back to India,” he said.
Gupta, whose family have close ties to President Jacob Zuma and are the financial muscle behind ANC-linked newspaper The New Age, became emotional and cried when asked about his feelings following the dismissal of charges and his arrest ordeal.
“I was mentally broken. I’m a proud South African,” said Gupta before breaking down in tears, which he wiped away with a white handkerchief.
Police spokeswoman Noxolo Kweza said Gupta was stopped “somewhere in Sandton and police wanted to search him and he refused”. Gupta had been taken to the police station and released on a warning, she said.
Gupta arrived in SA in 1993. He is managing director of Information and Communication Technologies provider Sahara and the money behind TNA media, which is set to launch The New Age daily newspaper next month. In 2008 he was asked to take part in the local leg of the carrying of the Olympic torch before the Beijing Games.
He has known ties to president Jacob Zuma, Tokyo Sexwale and Essop Pahad. His brother, Rajesh, and Zuma’s son, Duduzane Zuma, are business partners who own shares in steel company ArcelorMittal. Duduzane is also a BEE partner in Sahara. Gupta once said of his family’s relationship with the ANC: “Our relationship is nothing special. Sometimes the ANC asks us to help and, if we have a plane available, we don’t mind. We do get our costs back.”
The billionaire arrived at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court this morning in a white BMW followed by a black Range Rover transporting family and bodyguards. With the court still waiting for the police docket to arrive, Gupta and his entourage departed, returning shortly before 11am with a white Mercedes Benz joining the party.
With Gupta dressed in a black suit, white shirt and black-and-white striped tie, and the rest of his entourage dressed similarly, the courthouse came to a standstill as people gawked at the flurry of doors being opened by bodyguards.
As Gupta burst into tears a bodyguard rushed to his side with a bottle of water. “I have been living in South Africa for 18 years,” said Gupta.
Gupta said he was still deciding whether to press charges against the arresting officers. – Additional reporting by Kristen van Schie