New Delhi: Vasundhara Oswal, daughter of Indian-origin billionaire Pankaj Oswal recently opened up on her three-weel behind bars in Uganda. Vasundhara, who was falsely accused of kidnapping and murdering her father's former employee was sent to prison. Talking about the prison conditions, she said it was a "gross violation of human rights."
On October 1, 2024, 26-year-old Vashundhra Oswal was arrested under charges of abduction of Mukesh Menaira. However, just a few days after her arrest the case fallout as Menaira was found alive in Tanzania. Even after Menaira was found, Vashundhara remained imprisoned for almost three weeks. Speaking to PTI on Friday, she said: "I was detained for five days, then thrown in prison for two weeks. I wasn’t allowed to shower, and they denied me food and water. My parents had to bribe police officers just to get me necessities."
Vashundhra, further claimed that she was even denied access to a washroom as punishment. She said
"When I asked them to present a search warrant, they said, ‘We are in Uganda, we can do anything. You’re not in Europe anymore," Vashundhra said.
Vasundhara claimed she was physically forced into a police van by a male officer when she hesitated to comply. Denied legal rights, she was made to give a statement without a criminal lawyer, pay $30,000, and surrender her passport for a police bond—yet she was still thrown back into a cell.
Even after securing an unconditional release order from the courts, she was illegally detained for another 72 hours. Shockingly, despite Menaria being found alive on October 10, authorities not only kept her imprisoned but escalated her charges from kidnapping to attempted murder.
Initially placed in a facility for minor offenders, Vasundhara was later transferred to Nakasongola prison, which housed convicted murderers and human traffickers. She spent two 'terrifying' weeks there before finally securing bail on October 21. However, her ordeal continued, as her passport was only returned on December 10, and the case wasn't dismissed until December 19.

'They Wanted Money'

Vasundhara alleged that corrupt officials prolonged her legal troubles even after Menaria was found, eventually downgrading the charges to misdemeanour confinement—seemingly to extort more money.
"This was done to keep something over our heads and squeeze more money from my family," she stated.
Now free, Vasundhara is demanding accountability from the Ugandan government for what she calls an unjust persecution. "We have invested in their country for years, and this is how they treat us?" she questioned, reported TOI.