Who is Mukesh Menaria, the man billionaire Pankaj Oswal’s daughter Vasundhara Oswal allegedly murdered in…?

Riddhi Oswal, the sister of Vasundhara Oswal, and younger daughter of Pankaj Oswal, said the Oswal Group heiress was illegally detained by “armed corrupt officials” when she was visiting a factory site in Uganda. Vasundhara, 26, has been accused of kidnapping and murder of Mukesh Menaria, a former employee of the Oswal family.

Vasundhara Oswal, the 26-year-old daughter of Oswal Group’s Pankaj Oswal and Radhika Oswal, has been detained in Uganda since October 1, 2024, for the alleged kidnapping and murder of Mukesh Menaria, a former employee of the billionaire family who reportedly worked on their private jet and as domestic help at their various residences across the world.

The Oswal family has refuted the allegations against Vasundhara, claiming that Menaria is not dead and is living in Tanzania. Vasundhara’s family has alleged that she has been illegally detained and denied basic human rights and legal representation, adding that she was framed based on accusations levelled by a disgruntled employee of the Oswal, who has since admitted the fact, Hindustan Times (HT) reported.

Quoting Riddhi Oswal, the sister of Vasundhara Oswal, and younger daughter of Pankaj Oswal, the report said the Oswal Group heiress was nabbed by “armed corrupt officials” when she was visiting a factory site in Uganda.

“As we now know, this ordeal began when armed corrupt officials took her away in a car under the pretence of questioning, after already conducting an unwarranted raid at the plant, where they found nothing,” the report quoted Ridhi Oswal saying in an email.

Riddhi said the family had filed for contempt of court but “instead of releasing her, they took her to a lower court and charged her with inadmissible crimes like kidnapping and murder, immediately sending her to prison”,

Vasundhara’s younger sibling also alleged that this is a conspiracy against the Oswal Group orchestrated by their business rivals and being perpetrated by corrupt Ugandan officials who are hand-in-glove with them.

“It has been absolutely shocking to see how much power these corrupt officials have and how they are clearly working in collaboration with business competitors who are determined to destroy our family and my sister at any cost,” the report quoted Riddhi Oswal as saying.

Who is Mukesh Menaria?

Mukesh Menaria, a resident of Rajasthan, had been working for the Oswal family in various roles since 2017. According to the HT report, Menaria worked as a cabin crew on the family’s private jet and also as domestic help at their various residences across the world.

Earlier this year, the relationship between Menaria and his employers soured, following which he quit and was reportedly living in Tanzania, the Oswal family has claimed.

The Oswals claim Menaria was apprehended in Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam, and has signed an affidavit in which he stated that he was never kidnapped or tortured by the billionaire family, and living in Uganda of his own accord.

Citing the affidavit, Riddhi Oswal said that Menaria has admitted that his stay in Uganda was voluntary, and he left the country of his own accord before being apprehended in Tanzania.

Riddhi claimed that despite being under investigation in Tanzania, Mukesh Menaria has supported his former employers by submitting an affidavit, duly notarized by the Commissioner of Oaths, which rubbishes the charges levelled against Vasundhara

What does Menaria’s affidavit say?

In his signed affidavit, Mukesh Menaria has stated that “misunderstandings and disputes” between him and the Oswals led to the souring of their relations and he decided to part ways.

According to the affidavit, Menaria admits to having done things against his his employers that could be considered “dishonesty, breach of confidentiality and/ or misappropriation of trade secrets.”

Mukesh Menaria further states that due to these reasons, the Oswal family did not allow him to travel to India, and made an agreement with his employers to stay in Uganda of his own free will. But Menaria’s son found the situation as humiliating for his father and filed a case against the Oswal family with the Ugandan Police, accusing them of harassment.

Why was Vasundhara Oswal arrested?

According to a report by Financial Times, Vasundhara Oswal was visiting an Extra-Neutral Alcohol (ENA) plant owned by PRO Industries PTE Ltd — a subsidiary of the Oswal Global Group operating in Uganda– when armed personnel who claimed to be law enforcement officers, allegedly detained her without a warrant and any formal charges.

Besides Vasundhara, several of the company’s employees who accompanied, including its lawyer, Rita Ngabire, were also detained by the armed men, according to EU reporter.

Vasundhara’s father, Pankaj Oswal, has alleged that his daughter was detained based on false accusations levelled by a former Oswal Group employee who allegedly stole valuable assets and had taken a $200,000 loan with the family as guarantors. The business tycoon has filed an appeal in the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention against his daughter’s “illegal” detention.

In a public statement, Pankaj Oswal asserted that the accusations against his daughter are baseless, politically motivated, and aimed to exploit her high-profile position in the business space.