The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday imposed sanctions against the controversial Gupta family for "its political connections to engage in widespread corruption and bribery, capture government contracts, and misappropriate state assets.”

"The Guptas and Essa have used their influence with prominent politicians and parties to line their pockets with ill-gotten gains.  We will continue to exclude from the U.S. financial system those who profit from corruption." said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

The sanctions target Ajay Gupta Atul Gupta and Rajesh Gupta – who are Indian nationals – as well as their business associate Salim Essa.

The three Gupta brothers are accused by South Africa's public anti-graft watchdog of using their friendship with former president Jacob Zuma to influence policy and amass wealth. They deny any wrongdoing, and so does Zuma.

South Africa in March 2018 opened an inquiry into allegations of influence peddling by the Guptas during Zuma's presidency.

The family is accused of influencing decisions in the government, as well as major companies, among them, KPMG and McKinsey.

In August 2018, a former South African deputy finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas, alleged that one of the Gupta brothers threatened to kill him if he ever disclosed that they had held a controversial meeting, in which the wealthy family offered the politician the finance minister position.

The Guptas have since fled South Africa.

Source(s): US Treasury Department