Vasundhara Oswal Shares Her Distressing Experience of Illegal Detention in Uganda

Vasundhara Oswal, an Indian national, recounts her traumatic ordeal in Uganda after being falsely accused of kidnapping and murder. Arrested and detained illegally, she faced severe rights violations, including unlawful searches and coercion to provide statements without a lawyer. Despite enduring harassment and multiple postponements in her legal representation, she secured bail after a protracted struggle.

Vasundhara Oswal, daughter of billionaire Pankaj Oswal, details her harrowing experience of illegal detention in Uganda, where she faced unsubstantiated charges of kidnapping and murder. Detained for five days and arrested for two weeks, Vasundhara’s plight began after the alleged victim, Mukesh Menaria, was later discovered alive in Tanzania.

Oswal reported severe human rights violations during her detention, noting that Ugandan police lacked a search warrant. “When I asked them to present a search warrant, they said that we are in Uganda, we can do anything, you’re not in Europe anymore,” she recounted. This allowed the officials to raid her residence without legal justification.

Under false pretenses, she was compelled to visit the Interpol office to make statements without legal representation. Oswal alleged, “a male officer picked me up and threw me inside their van” when she refused to comply. She was coerced into making statements on the same day with the threat of extended detention.

Subsequently, she was arrested and had to pay a police bond of USD 30,000 while surrendering her passport, yet her release did not follow. Authorities finally informed her that she faced charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, which she claimed are illegal charges. This led to her transfer to Nakasongola prison, notorious for housing serious offenders.

Despite confirmation of Menaria’s survival on October 10, Vasundhara remained incarcerated for another two weeks due to obstruction by rival business interests. She stated, “We hired about 20 different lawyers… but each of those lawyers was paid off by these business competitors to either not get me my bail application to sign in the prison or did not send a car to come pick me up.” Ultimately, she secured her release on October 21, grateful for the support she received.

Vasundhara Oswal’s account highlights serious concerns regarding human rights practices in Uganda, particularly in the context of illegal detention and coercive interrogation methods. Her experience underscores the procedural failures in her case, including the absence of legal representation and the manipulation of justice by external parties. Oswal’s eventual release, following considerable struggle, accentuates the need for systemic reforms in the handling of such serious allegations by law enforcement agencies.

Original Source: news.abplive.com