Vasundhara Oswal, daughter of Indian-origin billionaire Pankaj Oswal, has been detained and charged in Uganda for the alleged kidnapping and murder of her father’s employee. She has now spoken out about the ordeal she endured. In October last year, she was accused of abducting and killing the employee, leading to her brief imprisonment. However, the man she was accused of murdering was later found alive in Tanzania.
While sharing her ordeal in a Ugandan jail with PTI, 27-year-old Vasundhara Oswal revealed that she was denied basic human rights and proper legal recourse following her arrest. She stated that she was subjected to an unlawful raid without a search warrant, forcibly taken to Interpol, and coerced into giving a statement under the threat of indefinite detention.
“I was detained for a total period of five days, and then I was thrown in prison for another two weeks. My human rights were grossly violated,” she told news agency PTI.
She explained how the case, which she claims was fabricated by business rivals unfolded- “When they proceeded to raid the site, they didn’t have a search warrant. When I asked them to present a search warrant, they said that we are in Uganda. We can do anything. You’re not in Europe anymore, and they basically proceeded to raid,”
Vasundhara was arrested on October 1, 2024, and was granted bail on October 21.
The Story
Vasundhara claimed she was forced to give a statement without legal representation. She alleged that the police coerced her into making a statement under the threat of indefinite detention. According to her, after her statement, Oswal was detained in a cell.
“And the next day when we asked for a police bond, they had told us to give about USD 30,000 (Approximately over 25 lakhs) and my passport, which we obliged, but I didn’t get the police bond. They threw me back in the same cell. Then we produced an unconditional, release order from the courts,” she narrated to PTI.
As per the news agency, she wasn’t released even after handing over the money and submitting the passport.
“I was still kept in detention for another seventy two hours illegally. Then they proceeded for the first time to tell me my charges, which I didn’t know all this while what I was being detained for. It was the first time they had told me I was being charged with kidnap with an attempt to murder”.
Oswal alleged that she was then taken to a lower-level magistrate court and charged with kidnapping with intent to murder—an offense that should have been handled by a higher court, not a magistrate court.
“They then threw me in Luero Prison for two days, which is where they keep, you know, these, criminals that are convicted for petty crimes, like theft or some sort of land dispute, etcetera. After two days there, they shifted me to Nakhon Songola prison, where you have these convicted murderers, criminals, and human traffickers. So I spent the next two weeks of my ordeal in Nagansongola prison,” she said.
‘Dead’ Person Found Alive
However, the entire case took an unexpected turn when the man who was presumed to be murdered was found alive in Tanzania. Oswal was granted bail then.
“They found him on October 10, about a week or two before I was granted bail, yet they still refused to release me,” she said, suggesting that “business competitors” may have conspired to keep her in jail.
Who Is Vasundhara Oswal
Vasundhara Oswal, daughter of billionaire Indian industrialist Pankaj Oswal, was born in 1999 and raised across India, Australia, and Switzerland. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance with honors from a Swiss institution. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Pro Industries, a division of Oswal Group Global, which, according to its website, is Africa’s leading modern ethanol producer. Vasundhara founded Pro Industries during her sophomore year of college. She has been recognized with accolades such as the 2023 Global Youth Icon Award and the Economic Times’ Woman of the Year title.
Her Career
Vasundhara Oswal comes from an influential and affluent family, often drawing attention due to her family’s vast corporate empire and luxurious lifestyle. However, beyond the legacy of her father’s business ventures, Vasundhara has carved out her own identity. She is recognized for her sophisticated style, charismatic personality, and active participation in exclusive social and business circles. While she may not be as widely known as some celebrity heirs, her name frequently comes up in conversations about India’s prominent business dynasties. Whether she chooses to expand her family’s legacy or forge her own path, Vasundhara remains a compelling figure among India’s next generation of billionaires.
