New Delhi: Bank of Baroda said it has cooperated with South African authorities in all investigations of matters relating to the Gupta family, including how the Guptas and their companies used their accounts at various banks in South Africa.
Police raided offices of the Bank of Baroda in South Africa and seized documents as part of its probe into corruption under the country’s former President Jacob Zuma and his links with the family of Indian born Gupta brothers. The Guptas and Zuma have denied any wrongdoing and said they were cooperating in the probe.
“The action by the South African Police Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation is no exception, as Bank of Baroda fully cooperated with the Hawks,” the bank said in a statement. “Presently, we want to emphasise that this search and seizure operation is not for investigation on Bank of Baroda. This requisition by the Hawks is in relation to the ongoing investigation of the Gupta family,” the statement said.
It said the documents which have been requested by the Hawks are account opening, account statements and supporting vouchers. These documents form part of the formal books and record of the Bank. “Many of these documents requisitioned by Hawks have been shared with the agency appointed by SARB as a part of their investigation and further some of these documents have been subpoenaed and been submitted to the investigating agencies,” the statement said
