Who is Vasundhara Oswal, daughter of Indian billionaire, detained in Uganda?

Vasundhara Oswal, the 26-year-old daughter of Indian billionaire Pankaj Oswal, has been detained by local police in Uganda on a variety of charges, including economic and criminal offences. Her case has attracted significant media attention, raising questions about the circumstances of her arrest.
While some media reports and videos from Uganda indicate that she may be connected to the kidnapping and murder of a chef, others have pointed to her alleged involvement in fraudulent activities, particularly regarding a cryptocurrency scheme.
Born in 1999, Vasundhara Oswal is the daughter of billionaire Panka Oswal. She was brought up in India, Australia, and Switzerland and graduated with honours in finance from a Swiss university with a bachelor’s in finance.
Vasundhara Oswal is the Executive Director of Pro Industries, part of the Oswal Group Global. According to its website, Pro Industries is Africa’s premier state-of-the-art ethanol producer.
The website mentions that Vasundhara, during her second year in graduation, founded Pro Industries.
She was recognised with awards like the Global Youth Icon Award in 2023 and named Woman of the Year by the Economic Times.
A social media post from Vasundhara Oswal’s family claimed Vasundhara is being held in poor conditions, forced to stay in a room filled with shoes, without access to bathing or changing clothes. They also reported that she suffered an anxiety attack, which went unaddressed by the authorities.
On October 1, Vasundhara was reportedly seized by a group of 20 armed men at the family’s extra neutral alcohol (ENA) plant. Local officials have connected her arrest to an ongoing investigation into a missing person, although her family vehemently denied these claims.
Her detention has sparked a wave of concern, particularly after several colleagues, including the company’s lawyer, Rita Ngabire, were also taken into custody.
According to an Instagram post, Oswal was denied contact with her family and lawyers, and her phone was confiscated by authorities.
Pankaj Oswal has filed an appeal with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), seeking urgent action regarding what he describes as the illegal detention of his daughter.
He claimed that his daughter’s detention is based on false accusations from a former employee who allegedly stole valuable assets and took out a $2,00,000 loan, for which the Oswal family acted as guarantors.
The Oswal family, originally from Punjab, has made headlines for both their entrepreneurial success and their philanthropic efforts in education, healthcare, and community development. Recently, they were also in the news for purchasing Villa Vari in Gingins, Switzerland, one of the world’s most expensive homes, reportedly acquired for $200 million.