Ajay Gupta‚ the patriarch of the embattled Gupta family and friend of former President Jacob Zuma‚ is ‘on the run’ and protected by a team of heavily armed bodyguards, claim media reports. The Cape Times quotes Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi as saying: ‘We know he has bodyguards and we would like to warn them they could be facing arrest for protecting a fugitive.’

Mulaudzi added that more arrests in connection with state capture were imminent. A Times Select report says the other Gupta brothers, Atul and Rajesh (Tony), are also on the Hawks radar. The report adds it is understood that former President Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane Zuma, a close ally of the Guptas, is also being sought in connection with two state capture investigations.

He is now a wanted man with a warrant of arrest out for him, claims Times Select. According to TimesLIVE, Hawks officials confirmed that Gupta was a fugitive from the law and that they had obtained a warrant for his arrest. The confirmation follows the appearance of the brothers’ nephew‚ Verun Gupta‚ in the Bloemfontein Regional Court on charges of corruption‚ fraud and theft yesterday.

The charges relate to the theft of R220m from the Free State Agricultural Department. Verun Gupta appeared alongside his co-accused and Gupta family lieutenants (see report below). A News24 report quotes Police Ministry spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga, who said they were working with the NPA on state capture investigations.

He said 13 warrants of arrest were issued in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg. He added that police were still looking for two suspects while three others, including two from India, and one of Chinese origin, were believed to be outside of SA.

Full TimesLIVE report

Full News24 report

Full Cape Times report (subscription needed)

Full Times Select report