South African (SA) government has launched a formal inquiry into former President Jacob Zuma’s recent meeting with fugitive businessman Ajay Gupta in Haridwar, India, slamming the trip as a “disgrace.”

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed that SA’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, is also facing intense scrutiny for interacting with individuals wanted by law enforcement. Concurrently, Department of International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola accused Zuma of attempting to run a parallel foreign policy that undermines the state.

The Gupta brothers remain the central focus of SA’s ongoing legal efforts to secure their extradition from abroad to face corruption charges linked to the multi-billion-Rand state capture scandal.

Ntshavheni highlighted that the executive is treating the breach with the utmost seriousness and is currently awaiting a comprehensive report from diplomatic officials before taking further action.

–ChannelAfrica–