Atul Gupta's R10m to be returned to him
Bloemfontein – The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein has ruled in favour of controversial Gupta brother Atul in his application to have a preservation order, obtained against him by the NPA's Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), set aside.
Judge Fouche Jordaan has ruled that the R10m in Gupta's accounts be unfrozen. He however amended his previous order pertaining to Gupta linked companies and Bank of Baroda. About R40m in the Bank of Baroda which come from the Estina dairy project remains preserved. The AFU had wanted R220m preserved. The bank and Gupta-linked companies were listed as applicants in the case.
Gupta claimed that the AFU had misled the court with the evidence they presented to secure the preservation order.
At the time that Gupta filed the application, he was in Dubai. His affidavit was signed and sworn in Dubai and it was stamped and signed by a commissioner of oaths at the South African consulate in there.
"I wish to state, at the outset, that I am currently outside South Africa," he said.