No water, denied washroom: What Indian-origin billionaire’s daughter endured in Uganda jail

‘My human rights were grossly violated.’

This is the claim made by Vasundhara Oswal, who was jailed in Uganda over the alleged kidnapping and murder of her father’s former employee.

Vasundhara is the daughter of Indian-origin billionaire Pankaj Oswal .

She spent more than three weeks in prison and has now accused Ugandan authorities of violating her human rights.

The 26-year-old was wrongly charged last year with the kidnapping and murder of Mukesh Menaria, a former employee of her father. However, Menaria was later found alive in Tanzania.

But what happened to her while she was behind bars?

Let’s find out:

How Vasundhara Oswal survived 3 weeks in Uganda jail

Vasundhara once lived in a mansion located in the snowy valleys, but her life took a drastic turn from luxury to imprisonment.

Within months, the 26-year-old was arrested by Ugandan authorities on false charges of kidnapping and murdering her father’s former employee.

During her time in prison, Vasundhara claimed she was subjected to inhumane conditions. She alleged that she was denied food and water, had no access to bathing facilities, and was not allowed to use the lavatory.

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Arrested on October 1, 2024, she was granted bail on October 21. She said that her detention lacked legal basis and was carried out without evidence or a warrant.

According to Vasundhara, Ugandan police forcibly searched her home. When she asked for a warrant, officers allegedly told her, “This is Uganda, we can do anything here; you are not in Europe.”

She was initially told she would be taken to Interpol headquarters, but when she refused to go that day, she claimed a male police officer forcibly carried her into a van.

Speaking to PTI, she recounted, “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 had to bribe police officers through lawyers to bring me food, water and basic necessities.”

She also alleged that, at one point, she was denied access to the washroom as a form of punishment.

Initially held in a prison for common criminals, Vasundhara was later moved to a high-security facility housing dangerous inmates. She claimed that, despite being granted bail on multiple occasions, she remained in unlawful detention.

After giving a statement, she was asked to pay USD 30,000 and submit her passport for a police bond. However, she alleged that even after fulfilling these requirements, she was denied the bond and placed back in a cell.

Vasundhara now wants the Ugandan government to take responsibility for what happened.

“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 is considering legal action to seek justice for the ordeal she endured.

‘Forced to live in filth’

Earlier last year, Vasundhara’s sister, Riddhi Oswal, described the conditions of her imprisonment in an email interview with Hindustan Times. She alleged that Vasundhara was forced to live in unsanitary conditions in the Ugandan prison where she was held.

According to Riddhi, her sister had no access to a hygienic toilet, struggled to find vegetarian food, and was not provided with hot water for bathing.

“She’s also already fallen sick two times in three weeks with a high fever as she is forced to take a bath with one bucket of absolutely cold water and live in filth,” Riddhi told the publication.

She added, “The best meal she is given is boiled potatoes and beans as they don’t have vegetarian food. She is forced to wear a prison dress and isn’t even allowed to change the dress at night.”

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Who is Pankaj Oswal, Vasundhara’s father?

Pankaj Oswal is the son of the late industrialist and business tycoon Abhey Kumar Oswal, who established Oswal Agro Mills and Oswal Greentech.

Raised in India, Oswal pursued his education at the Manipal Institute of Technology before joining his father’s businesses, gradually expanding their operations.

According to media reports, Oswal leads Oswal Group Global, a multibillion-dollar conglomerate with investments in petrochemicals, real estate, fertilisers, and mining.

The conglomerate’s subsidiary, PRO Industries Pvt Ltd, where his daughter Vasundhara serves as executive director, owns the largest ethanol plant in East Africa. The group also controls Axis Minerals, a bauxite mining company in West Africa, and Burrup Fertilisers in Australia, known for producing the highest volume of liquid ammonia globally.

Last year, Oswal submitted an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), raising concerns about Vasundhara’s alleged unlawful detention and the harsh conditions of her interrogation.

In an interview with EU Reporter last year, Vasundhara’s mother, Radhika Oswal, expressed her distress, stating, “This is every mother’s nightmare. My young daughter has been thrown into a foreign jail… Vasundhara is an innocent bystander. All I want is her safety, and for her to be back in my arms.”

In 2009, Oswal was recognised with the Ernst & Young Best Young Entrepreneur Award. He was also named among the 40 Under 40 Outstanding Businesspersons.

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Beyond his business interests, Oswal made headlines last year for purchasing one of the world’s most expensive homes in Switzerland. The property, named Villa Vari, was acquired for a staggering $200 million (approximately Rs 1,649 crore).

The Oswal family, including Pankaj, his wife Radhika, and their daughters Vasundhara and Riddhi, have been residing in Switzerland for the past decade after relocating from Australia.

Vasundhara got a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with Honours from a prestigious university in Switzerland.

She has received several accolades, including Inspiring Woman of the Year by The Economic Times and the Global Youth Icon Award in 2023. She was also featured in Femina India the same year.

With inputs from agencies