Ajay Gupta, Atul Gupta and Rajesh Gupta who were allegedly involved in removing former South African President Jacob Zuma from power were provided category ‘Z’ security by the Uttarakhand police. Their Dehradun residence has been surrounded by the police force and it has become a fort for the protection of the Gupta brothers. Originally from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, they shifted to South Africa in 1993. According to the Uttarakhand government, they were provided the Z category security as per the defined rules.
They have a vast business empire and a lavish bungalow in opulent Curzon road area of Dehradun. Following the orders from the Uttarakhand government, the police provided them the upgraded protection apart from looking after their mansion when they were out of the country and during the intermittent stops.
According to one executive, Ajay Gupta was living in his Dehradun manor when a beset Jacob Zuma resigned after accusations of venality and corruption. After the resignation of Zuma, Ajay flew to an unidentified place in a chopper. According to sources, the Gupta brothers had high-level connections with top leaders from Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Bhartiya Janata Party.
In a statement issued by the Principal Home Secretary, Mr. Anand Bardhan to a news outlet, the brothers were already eligible for receiving Y level security but after some recent incidents the situation was investigated and they were given Z level security last year. He also said that the cost of the security was beard by the brothers themselves and the security was provided according to proper rules. Only Rajesh Gupta is not getting the Z level security and both his brothers enjoy the ultimate category of security.
The Gupta brothers have two Personal Security officers (PSOs) apart from the four house guards. Nivedita Kukreti said that the brothers bear all the costs of the six officers who are responsible for their security. She is the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and when asked about the total cost she did not tell.
The interesting thing is that this type of security is not easily accessible by everyone and the Gupta brothers are the only businessmen in Uttarakhand to have this security. They had shifted to South Africa in 1993 to expand their business and they had since made good connections with politicians and businessmen there also. President Jacob Zuma was close friends with the Gupta brothers and the son and wife of Mr. Zuma worked in the company owned by Gupta brothers.
The Gupta brothers have two Personal Security officers (PSOs) apart from the four house guards. Nivedita Kukreti, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) said that the brothers bear all the costs of the six officers who are responsible for their security. Their residence is guarded by the Uttarakhand police and they have been bearing the cost of the security themselves. They have to inform the Dehradun police about their movements due to security issues and they will be out of their residence from 16th to 18th February.
The friendship between President Zuma and Gupta brothers was strong and Zuma has become a victim of controversy due to bending the rules for Gupta brothers. Once he allowed a plane carrying the guests of Gupta brothers to land at an Air Force base near Johannesburg and the had to face the opposition onslaught for this.
