Businessman, Gupta family

Rajesh (Tony) Gupta: what the State Capture Commission found, and what happened next

Named in the Commission's report: Part I (The New Age); Part II Vol 2 (Denel); Part VI Vol 1 (Estina).

What the Commission found

• The Commission found that the Guptas captured Denel through the 2014 procurement of VR Laser, engineering a position as Denel's most privileged supplier.⁶Report reference: Part II Vol 2 (Denel)
• The Commission relied on testimony that Tony Gupta requested an outstanding Estina payment on 6 April 2013, after which the Free State paid R34.95 million.⁵Report reference: Part VI Vol 1 (Estina)

What it recommended

• In Part I the Commission said the NPA should consider prosecuting him on evidence that he offered bribes to former SAA CEO Vuyisile Kona, who rejected them.²
• In Part VI the Commission recommended that Tony Gupta be investigated over the Vrede (Estina) project.⁵

What happened next

1. June 2022Arrested in the UAE after Interpol listed the brothers, as reported by Bloomberg.¹
2. April 2023Extradition refused. Bloomberg reported that the UAE denied South Africa's extradition request about two months before 7 June 2023, saying it did not meet its documentation standards.¹
3. 12 June 2025Court proceedings in related case. The Supreme Court of Appeal set aside the 2023 acquittals of Gupta associates in the Nulane case and ordered a retrial.³
4. 4 June 2026Related case re-enrolled. EWN reported that the Nulane case, one of two cases in the failed extradition bid for Atul and Rajesh Gupta, was re-enrolled.⁴

Their response

Bloomberg reported in June 2023 that the Guptas deny wrongdoing.

Sources

1. Bloomberg (via BNN Bloomberg), South Africa revives Gupta extradition bid after UAE talks (7 June 2023)
2. Daily Maverick, The list: the people and businesses the State Capture Commission recommends for prosecution by the NPA (Part 1) (5 January 2022)
3. Daily Maverick, NPA secures major State Capture win: Gupta associates Sharma, Ragavan, and Free State officials heading back to court (12 June 2025)
4. EWN, NPA re-enrolls Gupta-linked Nulane corruption case following appeal court victory (4 June 2026)
5. Polity.org.za, Zondo says Magashule, Zwane pushed 'Gupta agenda' with Vrede project, recommends criminal probe (News24Wire) (23 June 2022)
6. TimesLIVE, Wrap: everything you need to know about part 2 of state capture report (2 February 2022)

Commission findings are not criminal convictions. Some findings have been challenged in court. Each finding is attributed to the Commission and linked to its report.