eNCA correspondent Rebecca Bundhun says she has been speaking to a close Gupta family friend and he confirmed that Ajay is in the city in Uttar Pradesh state.

The controversial businessman is wanted by the Hawks for his alleged involvement in corruption. He is denying all the allegations.

Summonses for the three Gupta brothers - as well as Dudu Myeni and Duduzane Zuma - have been issued.

They have all been told to appear before Parliament's committee investigating state capture.

In April he was seen in Dubai, when South African businessman Justin van Pletzen confronted a jovial Ajay outside a business park in the emirate. Van Pletzen was subsequently detained by authorities after Ajay Gupta laid a complaint against him.

eNCA reported that the eldest of the three Gupta brothers was first spotted in a New Delhi hotel last week. He and other family members (including Tony and Atul Gupta) are reportedly on a religious pilgrimage to the northern province of Uttarakhand.

While Indian income tax authorities are still insisting that the brothers account for fraudulently misrepresenting their tax returns, it transpired on Friday that the Indian Intelligence Bureau had not issued a so-called "Look out circular" (LOC) for Ajay Gupta.

The Times of India reported that the Indian Intelligence Bureau had not issued a LOC against him, and that this came about after Ajay Gupta initially requested clarity on reports of a LOC.

A LOC is used to flag fugitives and absconded criminals at Indian ports of entry.

eNCA/News24