Indian-origin billionaire Pankaj Oswal and his wife, Radhika Oswal, have gone into hiding at a “secret location” while they work tirelessly to secure the release of their elder daughter, Vasundhara Oswal, who has been jailed in Uganda for over three weeks. The couple, consumed with guilt over sending Vasundhara to Uganda, feel helpless as they cannot travel to the country themselves due to fears of immediate arrest, according to their younger daughter, Riddhi Oswal.
Vasundhara, 26, was detained by Ugandan authorities on October 1 during a visit to her family’s factory, part of a $100 million investment by the Oswal Group in East Africa’s first grain-based Extra-Neutral Alcohol (ENA) production facility. She was reportedly taken by armed police officers under the guise of questioning related to a missing person case, which her family claims is based on fabricated charges. According to the Oswals, the man she is accused of kidnapping is alive and in Tanzania.
Riddhi Oswal revealed in an interview with HT.com that her sister is being held in prison under inhumane conditions and that her arrest was made without a warrant. The family is fighting to prove her innocence, but their efforts are hindered by Uganda’s “highly corrupt” officials.
“My parents are wracked with guilt for pushing Vasundhara to manage the factory in Uganda,” Riddhi said, explaining that they had encouraged her to take on challenging projects in the spirit of gender equality. The family first learned of Vasundhara’s detention while in London and have since been isolated, focused solely on her case.
“They eat just one meal a day, surviving on the hope that they can secure her release,” Riddhi added, emphasizing the emotional toll the ordeal has taken on the family. Meanwhile, Riddhi has been tasked with managing family and business affairs as her parents continue their efforts to free Vasundhara.
