Fugitive businessman Atul Gupta loses bid to get new S African passport

Atul Gupta, one of the three Gupta brothers now in self-exile in Dubai, has lost a high court bid to get a new passport from the South African government.

Atul, Ajay, and Rajesh Gupta are accused of siphoning billions of rands from South African parastatals through their close association with former president Jacob Zuma.

Atul and Rajesh are currently awaiting extradition to face charges in South Africa.

The brothers and their families fled to Dubai after Zuma was ousted from the presidency in 2018 by his ruling African National Congress. They have also been blacklisted by the US and the UK.

The Pretoria high court ruled on Friday that Atul Gupta did not qualify for a South African passport because he was a fugitive from justice.

Gupta had approached the South African consulate in Dubai for a new passport in 2018. This was before he faced extradition charges.

But the Department of Home Affairs had rejected Gupta's application after the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed tha