NATIONAL NEWS - The wedding of the Gupta brothers’ niece in 2013 at Sun City was one of the most lavish celebrations the country has ever seen: it was a four-day extravaganza costing millions while the entire country was outraged by the wedding party's landing at Waterkloof Air Base.
But though the Guptas may have been happy to host such an event, leaked emails show that they were much less eager to settle the bill at the end of it. It’s an interesting glimpse into how the ultra-rich family conducts business.
When Vega Gupta wed Aakash Jahajgarhia in 2013, it was a party on a scale seldom seen before in South Africa. Sahara CEO Ashu Chawla referred to it early on in a planning email as “the marriage of the century”. Chawla served as the point man for Team Gupta, liaising with Sun City both before and after the wedding.
Sun City was reserved for the exclusive use of the Guptas and their guests from 30 April to 4 May, with the Gupta brothers arranging to check in to the Palace Hotel a week earlier; 231 rooms were booked.
Emails between Sun City and Gupta staff in advance show that the family had many demands. Among the requests: the use of fireworks; ice rigs; horses; one waiter for every 10 guests; complimentary laundry services for guests; the right to bring in all food externally.
They were tactfully informed that other requests were impossible. Flowers could not be planted in the Sun City flowerbeds to spell out the names of the wedding party “as a consequence of the winter blooms, which will only flower when it is cold”.
The celebrations appear to have gone off without a hitch. The problems began shortly after the wedding, with erstwhile Sun City CEO Richard Hawkins emailing Sahara on May 13 to explain that the bill preparation was delayed due to “a substantial amount of operating equipment that was signed for by your team which has not been returned”. A meeting took place on 16 May, where Chawla and his team were presented with the bill.
They were also informed that they would be liable for over R100,000 worth of damage to the Valley of the Waves pool. Pictures reveal that the sides of the pool appear to have been chipped. It was subsequently agreed that the events company responsible for the wedding, Gearhouse, would settle this from its insurance.
Emails show that what followed was a full 19 months of wrangling over the bill between the Guptas and Sun City. By the end of May 2013, Hawkins was writing: “Please confirm you have all the required documentation? I need payment now, thanks.” He would be waiting a lot longer.
