Court decides if Guptas’ assets can be frozen

The assets are linked to the alleged Estina Dairy Projects scam.

Varun Gupta, the only member of the controversial family who has been charged in relation to the scam so far, has returned to South Africa for the ruling, his attorney has confirmed. He had been granted permission to travel to Dubai for a traditional ceremony.

The state’s first attempt to freeze R220 million in assets linked to the alleged Estina Dairy Project scam as the proceeds of crime‚ or the instrumentality of an offense‚ was initially successful, but was later reversed by High Court Judge Fouche Jordaan.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit then applied for the “restraint” of R250 million in Gupta assets‚ which include 43 residential‚ farm and business properties‚ two aircraft‚ a helicopter‚ a Porsche‚ Lamborghini‚ Range Rovers and other cars and bank accounts belonging to Oakbay Investments and Sahara Computers.

These assets will be confiscated if and when the state succeeds in convicting those implicated in the alleged scam.