Man who filmed Ajay Gupta in Dubai has been released

South African businessman Justin van Pletzen, who had an encounter with Ajay Gupta last Wednesday at an office block in Dubai, has been released by Emirati authorities after being taken in for questioning.

The department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) said in a statement on Thursday that he was released, apparently without charge, after being taken in for questioning, possibly in relation to the video.

The exact reason for the arrest remains unclear and United Arab Emirates officials are yet to confirm the details.

When Van Pletzen confronted Gupta last week outside the South African embassy, he asked the fugitive when he would return to South Africa to answer to state capture allegations.

Gupta’s reply was that he would cooperate with law enforcement agencies once they “give him a reply”.

“They’re not giving a reply. The day they give a reply, I’ll go there,” Ajay said at the time.

Van Pletzen later said he was so incensed at the sight of Gupta that he wanted to hit him but was worried about what the authorities might do to him if he did.

Watch van Pletzen’s encounter with Ajay The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.