(Image source from: indianexpress.com)

The government of South Africa said that the wealthy Gupta brothers have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates. Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta have been facing charges of political corruption under the former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. But it is not clear if the government of UAE will send the brothers back to South Africa. South Africa's Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services said in a brief statement saying that the discussions between the law enforcement agencies in UAE and South Africa is going on. Gupta Brothers are accused of connections with Zuma who ruled from 2009 to 2018.

They are facing allegations of misappropriate assets, for influencing cabinet appointments, finalized contracts and for misusing state funds. Gupta Brothers are born in India and they fled from South Africa after Jacob Zuma lost power in 2018. An inquiry was going on about the corruption charges. UAE inked a deal with South Africa in April 2021 regarding an extradition treaty. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's government targeted Zuma and Gupta Brothers. The opposition of South Africa welcomed the arrests. Democratic Alliance issued a statement saying "We hope that this is indeed the beginning of arrests and prosecution of those who have - locally and abroad - looted our country for years and are directly responsible for the hardships that millions of South Africans face today".

By Siva Kumar