Thu Oct 17 17:12:39 UTC 2024: ## Ugandan Authorities Detain Daughter of Indian Billionaire in Controversial Arrest

**Kampala, Uganda** – Vasundhara Oswal, the 26-year-old daughter of Indian billionaire Pankaj Oswal, has been detained in Uganda since October 1st under circumstances her family claims are unjust and politically motivated. Vasundhara, a key figure in her family’s business ventures, was in Uganda as part of PRO Industries’ $100 million investment in a new Extra-Neutral Alcohol (ENA) production facility.

On October 1st, while visiting the ENA plant, Vasundhara was detained by armed men claiming to be law enforcement officers. Her family alleges that the men provided no identification or warrant and took her into custody without formal charges. The company’s lawyer, Rita Ngabire, was also detained.

Pankaj Oswal, in an open letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, claims his daughter’s detention stems from false accusations made by a former employee, Mukesh Menaria. Menaria, who allegedly stole valuable assets and took a $200,000 loan with the Oswals as guarantors, has been accused of fabricating accusations to avoid repayment.

Following Oswal’s letter, Menaria was reportedly kidnapped in Uganda and smuggled into Tanzania, where he was arrested. This led to Vasundhara and Ngabire being formally remanded to Nakasongola prison on October 9th on charges of kidnapping Menaria with the intent to kill.

Vasundhara has reportedly endured harsh conditions in prison, including unsanitary environments, lack of access to hygienic water and proper facilities, and denial of vegetarian food. The Oswal family has retained renowned human rights lawyer Cherie Blair, who has filed an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, seeking international intervention.

Prison officials have challenged Oswal’s claims of mistreatment, stating that Vasundhara’s cleaning duties during detention did not violate her rights. The Oswal family has also expressed concerns over additional charges being imposed to prevent Vasundhara from securing bail.

The family has put their business plans in Uganda on hold until Vasundhara’s situation is resolved. This incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the fairness of the Ugandan legal system, particularly with regards to foreign investment.

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