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Vasundhara Oswal, daughter of billionaire Pankaj Oswal, was arrested in Uganda on false charges. Despite bail, she faced inhumane prison treatment. The case was dismissed.
Vasundhara Oswal was initially imprisoned in a facility for common criminals, but she was later transferred to a high-security prison housing dangerous inmates. (PTI)
Vasundhara Oswal, the daughter of Indian-origin billionaire Pankaj Oswal, enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle in Switzerland. Her mansion was situated in the snowy valleys of the country. However, her life transitioned abruptly from luxury to confinement.
In a matter of months, the 26-year-old found herself arrested by Ugandan police on fabricated charges of kidnapping and murdering a former employee of her father. Subsequently, the alleged victim was located alive in Tanzania.
During this period, Vasundhara reportedly endured inhumane treatment in a Ugandan prison. She alleged that she was denied food and water, refused access to bathing facilities, and prevented from using the lavatory.
Arrested on October 1, 2024, Vasundhara was later granted bail on October 21. She maintained that her arrest was executed without valid evidence or a warrant.
According to Vasundhara, Ugandan police forcibly searched her house. When she requested a search warrant, the policemen replied, “This is Uganda, we can do anything here; you are not in Europe.”
She was informed that she would be escorted to Interpol headquarters. However, when she declined to go that day, she alleged that a male police officer forcibly carried her into a van.
In an interview with PTI, Vasundhara said, “I was detained for five days and then put in jail for two weeks. My human rights were badly ignored. I was given neither food nor water.”
“My parents resorted to bribing police officers, through lawyers, just to get food and essential items to me. There was even an instance when I was denied access to the washroom as a form of punishment,” she added.
Vasundhara was initially imprisoned in a facility for common criminals, but she was later transferred to a high-security prison housing dangerous inmates. She alleged that she was held in unlawful custody despite being granted bail by the court on multiple occasions. “On October 10, when it was confirmed that the individual presumed dead was alive, I was still kept incarcerated,” she shared.
Vasundhara reported being asked to deposit 30,000 US dollars and her passport for bail. Despite submitting all the requested documents, she claimed she was not released and was held in illegal custody for 72 hours.
On December 19, 2024, the court dismissed the case against her. However, Vasundhara maintained that the Ugandan government should rectify its mistake. “We had invested in business there, but because of their system I had to suffer so much. It is now their responsibility to improve their system,” she said. She is contemplating legal action to pursue justice for the hardship experienced during her incarceration.
