Pankaj Oswal, an Indian-origin billionaire businessman, has made an urgent appeal to the United Nations, seeking international intervention for the release of his 26-year-old daughter, Vasundhara Oswal, who he claims is being held illegally in Uganda. According to Oswal, his daughter has been imprisoned without trial since October 1, and during this time, she has been denied basic human rights, including access to her family and legal representation. This distressing situation has prompted Oswal to write to the Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, requesting his immediate intervention to secure Vasundhara’s release.
Who is Pankaj Oswal?
Pankaj Oswal comes from a well-known Indian business family. He is the son of the late industrialist and business tycoon Abhey Kumar Oswal, the founder of Oswal Agro Mills and Oswal Greentech. Raised in India, Oswal completed his education at the Manipal Institute of Technology before joining his father’s business empire, where he expanded the family’s ventures into new sectors. Today, Oswal heads the Oswal Group Global, a multibillion-dollar conglomerate with interests spanning petrochemicals, real estate, fertilizers, and mining.
One of the significant companies under the Oswal Group is PRO Industries Pvt Ltd, where Vasundhara Oswal serves as an executive director. PRO Industries owns the largest ethanol plant in East Africa. The conglomerate also owns Axis Minerals, which is involved in bauxite mining in West Africa, and Burrup Fertilisers in Australia, one of the world’s leading producers of liquid ammonia. In recognition of his business achievements, Pankaj Oswal was awarded the Ernst & Young Best Young Entrepreneur Award in 2009 and named one of the “40 under 40 Outstanding Businesspersons.”
In addition to his business accomplishments, Oswal was granted Cypriot citizenship in 2018 under Cyprus’s golden passport program, designed to attract foreign investment. Beyond business, Oswal has made headlines for purchasing one of the world’s most expensive homes, Villa Vari, in Switzerland, for a staggering $200 million (approximately Rs 1,649 crore). Pankaj Oswal, his wife Radhika, and their two daughters, Vasundhara and Ridi, have lived in Switzerland for the past decade, after relocating from Australia.
The Arrest of Vasundhara Oswal
Vasundhara’s arrest, as described by her father, stems from a dispute involving a former employee of the Oswal family. This employee allegedly stole valuables and took a loan of $200,000 (around Rs 1.68 crore), with the Oswal family as guarantors. When the family refused to cover the loan, the employee retaliated by filing false accusations against Vasundhara. These accusations include serious charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, even though the individual has since fled Uganda and was reportedly apprehended in Tanzania with evidence of the theft.
Despite the employee’s arrest, Vasundhara remains imprisoned in Uganda. Her father claims that she has been unjustly accused and detained without trial. According to a family statement, Vasundhara was detained on October 1 and subjected to over 90 hours of interrogation under degrading conditions, during which she was denied legal counsel, contact with her family, or access to basic human rights.
The family further detailed the appalling conditions Vasundhara faced in detention. Through updates shared on her official Instagram account, the family revealed that Vasundhara was forced to stay in a room filled with shoes, had to use unsanitary toilets, and was paraded as a suspect in a manner that stripped her of her dignity. Despite a court order calling for her unconditional release, the police reportedly refused to comply. Instead, they pressed charges in a lower court on a Friday evening, deliberately preventing her from securing bail over the weekend.
Oswal states that Vasundhara’s detention is a result of “corporate and political manipulation,” with certain parties attempting to exploit her high-profile position in the business world. As an executive director of PRO Industries, Vasundhara’s responsibilities include overseeing the company’s expansion projects, managing debt reduction efforts, and leading new sustainability initiatives. She also plays a vital role in investment management, finance, and liaising with government officials. Vasundhara holds a Bachelor’s degree in finance from a university in Switzerland and is known for her sharp business acumen.
Appeal to the United Nations
In response to his daughter’s arrest and the inhumane treatment she has endured, Pankaj Oswal has turned to the United Nations for help. He has filed an urgent appeal with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), seeking their intervention in Vasundhara’s case. The WGAD is a specialized UN body that investigates instances of police abuse and unlawful detentions worldwide. Comprising international human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, the WGAD aims to expose and rectify abuses of power by governments and law enforcement agencies.
Radhika Oswal, Vasundhara’s mother, has also voiced her deep concern over her daughter’s plight. She described the situation as every mother’s worst 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,” she said, expressing the family’s anguish over the unjust detention.
In addition to appealing to the UN, Pankaj Oswal has written directly to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, asking for his personal intervention in the matter. The family has also enlisted the help of renowned human rights lawyer Cherie Blair CBE, KC, whose legal team has argued that Vasundhara’s treatment violates both Ugandan domestic laws and international legal standards. Blair’s office is now actively involved in fighting for Vasundhara’s release.
Conclusion
The Oswal family’s legal battle in Uganda has drawn significant international attention, highlighting the complexities of corporate and political dynamics in the region. For Pankaj Oswal, the fight to secure his daughter’s freedom has become a deeply personal mission, not just to protect his family but also to seek justice in a system he believes is being manipulated for malicious intent. As the legal proceedings continue, the world watches to see how this case will unfold, and whether international pressure, through entities like the United Nations, can help bring about a fair resolution for Vasundhara Oswal.