Guptas arrested for their alleged involvement in suicide of Indian builder

Ajay and Anil Gupta have been arrested in India for their alleged involvement in the suicide of a prominent builder. The brothers are accused of threatening and harassing the builder over financial matters.

Ajay and Anil Gupta have been arrested in India for their alleged involvement in the suicide of a prominent builder. The brothers are accused of threatening and harassing the builder over financial matters.

Published May 25, 2024

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Controversial businessmen Ajay Gupta and his brother in law, Anil Gupta, were arrested on Friday in India for their alleged involvement in the death of a prominent builder in Dehradun.

The two Gupta relatives were taken into custody by police for allegedly abetting the suicide of Satyendra Singh Sahni, according to Times of India.

In his suicide note addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sahni stated that the Gupta relatives had been threatening him for some time, leading him to take his own life.

The builder apparently said that the brothers had been pressuring him over financial matters related to a partnership project.

In 2023, Ranvir Sahni, the son of Satyendra, lodged a complaint against the Guptas.

"My father was constantly being threatened by Ajay Gupta, son of Shiv Gupta, and Anil Gupta, son of Shyam Lal Gupta, residents of Nehru Colony, Dalanwala, over financial matters. A written complaint was submitted to the local police on 19 May 2023 about the Gupta brothers’ threats, harassment, intimidation, and blackmail," Ranvir said.

"Ajay Gupta and Anil Gupta filed a false complaint with the SSP in Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) without any basis. As a result, my father was repeatedly summoned by Saharanpur police," he added.

There was prima facie evidence to arrest the two businessmen.

 "The Gupta brothers have been detained on the basis of their involvement in the case. Both will be produced in court on Saturday," Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh said.

SA still trying to extradite brothers 

South Africa is still trying to extradite the other Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh from the United Arab Emirates. In April, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that it was facing challenges in its bid to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta back to South Africa from the UAE.

National Director of Public Prosecutions of the NPA, Advocate Shamila Batohi said that the brothers faced multiple charges relating to fraud and money laundering.

The extradition request to the UAE was rejected in April 2023 and Batohi said follow-ups on finding reasons why have not been responded to by their Middle Eastern counterparts.

“We have been trying very hard to find out some very basic things like what exactly is the problem with our extradition request. We’ve not had satisfactory responses from the UAE,” Batohi said.

The NPA had also taken steps to request political intervention from the Presidency.

Batohi said that the NPA had briefed Deputy President Paul Mashatile on the matter.

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