Properties of the Gupta brothers, their wives Chetali and Artie, and Iqbal Shamar, who is currently in custody at the Bainsvlei Police Station in Bloemfontein in the Free State, were attached following a High Court order. 

According to the directorate's spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, the ID has received an unlimited restraint order.

“The order has also cited the business rescue practitioner because we know that process is currently taking place. We must also add that the order further extends to Iqbal Sharma and property he owns, more particularly his two companies, Nulane Investment and Issar Global. The order pertains to property in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and abroad,” Seboka adds.

Sharma is the fourth accused in the Free State Estina adjacent case where R24 million was allegedly siphoned off from the Department of Agriculture during a feasibility study in 2011.

The state, on Thursday during the court appearance of Sharma, former Head of the Department (HOD) of Agriculture, Peter Thabethe, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Seipati Dlamini, and Bloem Water Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Limakatso Moorosi, confirmed that it has embarked on the extradition process to get the two Gupta brothers and their wives back into the country.

The four will, amongst others, face charges of fraud and corruption after money was diverted to Islandsite Investments 180 (Pty) Ltd (Islandsite), owned and controlled by the Gupta family. 

The four are sought as suspects in the matter where R24 million was syphoned off the Department of Agriculture, following a failed feasibility study on the provincial government's flagship project, which included the Estina Dairy project under ‘Mohuma mobung’. Four suspects, charged with fraud and corruption.

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