PRAVIN TAKES FIGHT TO GUPTAS
FINANCE Minister Pravin Gordhan does not believe there is any “bona fide” opposition to his application for a declaratory order confirming that he could not intervene in a dispute between Oakbay Investments and the four banks.
“It is supported by the banks‚ the Registrar of Banks‚ the Reserve Bank and FIC [Financial Intelligence Centre]‚” he said in his responding affidavit in the matter.
In his affidavit‚ filed yesterday‚ Gordhan called Oakbay Investments opposition to the application “unreasonable”. He said the Guptaowned company had sought to use a “concise application” as a springboard to salvage its commercial and other interests and filed extensive papers‚ yet did not address affidavits filed by the banks.
“Instead‚ it used many months to construct far-ranging accusations against me‚” the minister said.
In October‚ Gordhan applied for a declaratory order confirming that he could not intervene in a dispute between Oakbay and the four banks.
In a responding affidavit‚ Oakbay Investments acting CEO Ronica Ragavan accused Gordhan of using the courts to fight political battles.
Ragavan also accused Gordhan of instructing “captains of industry” to “clip the wings” of the Gupta family. Oakbay has asked the court to dismiss Gordhan’s application.
The matter is expected to be heard in court on March 28.
In a response to Ragavan’s affidavit‚ Gordhan yesterday said: “In truth‚ what stands revealed as the real plot is the systematic and highly organised campaign by the Gupta family and its associates against the National Treasury‚ myself and other targets.”
He said Oakbay’s opposition to the application had delayed the hearing and consumed undue human and financial resources.
Gordhan has asked the court to order that Oakbay pay costs in the matter as it was not reasonable to “devolve the legal costs on public funds”.