Don't let Bank of Baroda move Gupta money offshore

OUTA calls on the SARB to make sure the Gupta-related funds in the Bank of Baroda are not moved offshore.

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13/02/2018 08:17:27

Don't let Bank of Baroda move Gupta money offshore


This following reports that the Bank of Baroda intends on closing its South African operations. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has confirmed the planned exit.

“OUTA believes public and business pressure was brought to bear against the Bank of Baroda for its continued services to the controversial Guptas,” says Wayne Duvenage, OUTA’s CEO.

The Bank of Baroda has come under increasing public scrutiny over its continued links with the Guptas, who now have very limited banking options left in South Africa.

In September, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) got an interim order freezing the rehab funds for the Gupta mines which are held in the Bank of Baroda. The Guptas are opposing this action. The matter is now due to be heard in court in May for a final order. The rehab funds are for the Gupta mines but are required by law and are effectively for the public benefit, not for the private use of the mine owners, and OUTA’s action is aimed at preventing misuse and looting of these funds.

Due to OUTA’s action freezing the rehab funds, the Bank of Baroda will need court approval to move those funds to another bank.

OUTA’s legal team will be making contact with the SARB to ensure that the rehab funds do not go missing and that the Guptas are not able to use the Bank’s closure to move those or the funds in their other accounts out of the country.

“We believe the Reserve Bank will ensure the necessary rules and regulations will apply to protect the interests of all parties in the Bank’s departure. This includes securing the rehabilitation funds for the Gupta mines which OUTA had frozen last year,” says Duvenage.

Last year the Bank became the bank of last resort for the Gupta family after other South African banks dumped their accounts.

In July, OUTA called on the Registrar of Banks to cancel the Bank of Baroda’s banking licence because of the problematic way it was managing the Gupta accounts. Shortly afterwards, the Bank told the Guptas it planned to close their accounts; the Bank and the Guptas ended up in court in the Guptas’ fight to keep the accounts open.



OUTA is a proudly South African civil action organisation, that is purely crowd funded. Our work is supported by ordinary citizens who are passionate about holding government accountable and ensuring our taxes are used to the benefit of all South Africans.