FPJ Interview: Vasundhara Oswal To Sue For Malicious Prosecution, Rethinking Uganda Investments

The Free Press Journal was the first to report about the alleged illegal detention of Indian-origin entrepreneur Vasundhara Oswal, 26, in Uganda. She is the daughter of Indian-origin Cypriot resident and industrialist Pankaj Oswal and was accused of kidnapping and murdering a former employee but has been set free by the Ugandan judiciary. In an exclusive interaction with FPJ’s Dhairya Gajara, Oswal shared about her life in prison, the backstory of the legal battle as well as her future course of action.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. As you allege that it was forceful detention, what exactly happened on the day you were arrested?

A. On October 1, just a day after I had returned from London, the police showed up on our Luwero plant. When I asked the reason, they said they had a notice from Interpol regarding a missing person. However they had no search warrant but searched our residence and tried to speak to all the employees. When they found nothing, they forcefully shoved me in their car on gunpoint where I was asked to give a statement about the missing person. Even after my statement was recorded, I was detained. This was the first time for me with no past criminal record or no history of entering a police station was told that I was going into a cell.

Q. According to your family, the police did not reveal the charges against you. What were the charges put on you and when were you informed about them?

A. Since the court gave an unconditional release orders due to the lack of charges against me even after more than 48 hours of detention, the Interpol on the fifth day said that I were arresting me for kidnapping and murder. I was shocked to hear this and the entire way to Luvero, I kept telling them that they know I’m innocent but they did not say a word.

Q. Your family had alleged that you were ill-treated by the police and jail authorities. What all did you go through during your time in the jail?

A. For the first night I was dumped in a really awful cell which was not made of any human living conditions. It was just a stone floor and urine all over. My parents paid USD 30,000 to get me released on a bond but still I was not released. After I was arrested, they had staged a media setup, made me do a walk of shame and took me to the prison in an animal truck. Till the fifth day, I couldn’t have a shower or a proper meal. I was made to live with conducted murders and rapists. If I would have been left alone for a little while, there were rumours that I worked have been taped or murdered for money.

Q. Did the Ugandan government provide any help, especially after your father wrote an open letter to the President of Uganda?

A. The open letter made the president realize that the person for whose murder I was being charged was alive. It made him question his own police. It made him question about the arrest of a young entrepreneur with no past criminal history, who had come to his country only to work. I believe that the senior authorities were told that I had killed our former employee and disposed off his body parts.

Q. What motive do you see behind the complainant filing false cases against you?

A. Its extortion. After a case against him in Switzerland, he was looking for payout and is still looking for it. He tried a failed attempt to manipulate the Indian authorities, followed by Uganda and now he’s eloped to Switzerland and using his tactics there. The employee’s son had contrasting statements. Earlier he said that it was he who was kidnapped and then he changed his stance and said that I tried to kill his father. This guy is going to run out of his chances of extortion and it’s just a matter of time.

Indian Entrepreneur Vasundhara Oswal Cleared Of All Charges By Ugandan Court After Weeks Of Detention

Q. How are you planning to reply your former employee against the harassment faced by you due to the legal matters?

A. We have filed multiple cases against him in India for what he has done to us. Very soon we will be filing a case against him for malicious prosecution. Instead of staying in India and facing these charges, he has gone to Switzerland. He is trying to evade the Indian justice system and take shelter in a jurisdiction which does not understand these cases.

Q. Oswal family is known for its multi-million dollars investment in Uganda. After all that happened, will you still continue investing in Uganda or think of other options?

A. Our plant is currently operating on full capacity and we have recently onboarded big brands. But what has happened has made us rethink of investing more in Uganda so we are trying to see where things will go. We are exploring many other options in the East African region. We already have two running projects in Tanzania including a mining project. Even from a business perspective, it’s always better to diversify the portfolio.

Q. What were the takeaways for you from this incident in your life?

A. It’s sad that someone who was like a family to us did this. He used to receive USD3,000 as salary, stayed in five-star hotels, received paid holidays, 45-days paid trip to India every year, air tickets covered, VIP assist. It’s sad to see people play such dirty games for money and it’s not easy to forecast that you’ll be falling in such a difficulty. But I believe your Karma will always bring you to the place you need to be in.