The daughter of Indian-origin billionaire Pankaj Oswal, Vasundhara Oswal, has come forward to share her harrowing experience of illegal detention and arrest by Ugandan authorities. Detained for weeks under false charges of kidnapping and murdering Mukesh Menaria, her father’s employee, her story reveals serious human rights violations during her time in Uganda.
Oswal recounted the disturbing episode, highlighting how she was forcibly taken by police without any legal grounds. "A male police officer threw me in his van," she stated, illustrating the forceful manner of her arrest. Mukesh Menaria, who was initially reported as missing, later emerged alive and well as authorities eventually discovered him hiding out at a hotel in Tanzania.
Reflecting on the bleak conditions and the treatment she endured, Vasundhara reported to PTI, "My human rights were grossly violated. For example, when they proceeded to raid the site, they did not have a search warrant." Instead of upholding legal standards, the police reportedly dismissed her concerns with alarming indifference: "We’re in Uganda. We can do anything. You're not in Europe anymore," she recounted, relaying the insensitivity of the arresting officers.
Vasundhara described the traumatic experience of being led to the Interpol office under false pretenses. "I did not want to do this the same day," she recalled, yet was pressured to comply. Once there, Oswal was coerced to give statements without the assistance of appropriate legal counsel—only later was she handed over to civil representation, though she was firmly convinced of her looming threat of indefinite detention if she refused to cooperate.
After complying with authorities' demands—paying $30,000 for what was claimed to be a police bond—Vasundhara was horrified to find herself back inside the same cell where she had endured the initial acts of intimidation. "I obliged but I didn't get a police bond. They threw me back inside the same cell," she explained, enduring conditions of incarceration for days longer than originally stated.
Notably, on October 21, 2023, Oswal was finally granted bail, about eleven days after Menaria was discovered alive. Nevertheless, she expressed frustration: “They found him on October 10, about a week to two weeks before I got bail,” she said, implying there was intentional misconduct among the authorities, perhaps influenced by rivals hoping to derail her family’s business interests.
Throughout the ordeal, she also alleges corruption among legal representatives, claiming, "I think we hired about 20 different lawyers at the time to handle my case, but each of those lawyers was paid off by, you know, these business competitors." Efforts to undermine her legal standing compounded the trauma she experienced during her time behind bars.
After her release, Pankaj Oswal, along with his family, has begun exploring legal avenues against the Ugandan authorities, indicating they might also relocate their newly established extra neutral alcohol (ENA) plant outside Uganda. Vasundhara stated, “How can you expect a fair deal in a country like this?"
With the Oswal family's ventures under fire, Vasundhara's case raises serious alarm bells related to the integrity of Uganda's judicial processes and law enforcement. Cherie Blair CBE, her lawyer from Omnia Strategy LLP, stated, “Detention without charge for this length of time is unlawful under Ugandan law, as the maximum allowed period is 48 hours.”
The family is now determined to secure accountability for the judgment against them, which they present as founded on fabricated claims stemming from childhhood rivalries impacting their business pursuits. Vasundhara was assertive: “These charges of kidnap and murder were entirely fabricated.”
While the legal battle continues, the Oswals will remain vigilant. Following the vast financial investment involved—approximately $150 million equity committed to the ENA plant project—every step taken is strategic, as they weigh the repercussions of international business practices and their sensitive nature. It serves as a stark reminder of the personal toll when ambition meets corruption.
Vasundhara Oswal’s ordeal, steeped in personal trauma and injustice, stands not only as her narrative but as part of larger discussions about global human rights, law enforcement integrity, and business ethics.