The executive director of Pro Industries Pte Limited, Vasundhara Oswal, has sued the Attorney General, seeking Shs 4 billion in damages over what she describes as an unlawful search, arrest, and prolonged detention carried out without a court order.
According to affidavits filed in court, police officers on October 1, 2024 allegedly forced their way into the company’s premises in Ndibulungi village, Luweero district, while investigating a missing person case.
Oswal states that Thomas Bbaale informed her that security officers were searching for Mukesh Kumar Menaria at the request of his son, Vishnu Menaria, and that no warrant was required.
She further claims that Swiss police inspector Pauline Chevenard had initiated a Yellow Diffusion Notice through Interpol in connection with the matter.
In her suit, Oswal accuses Bbaale, Alison Agaba, Joseph Obwona, Joseph Kyomuhendo, Annette Karungi, and the Attorney General of forcibly entering the premises, conducting an illegal search without a valid warrant, and seizing jewellery valued at $150,000 (approximately Shs 532.7 million).
She further alleges that officers recorded videos and photographs without authorization, interrogated her in the absence of her lawyers, unlawfully arrested her, and broadcast the incident on national television.
She claims she was detained beyond the constitutionally mandated 48-hour limit and denied basic necessities, including food, drinking water, sanitation, and medical care.
In her affidavit, Oswal says the Interpol notice from Switzerland “did not make sense,” noting that she had just returned to Uganda from London on September 30, 2024, and did not know the whereabouts of Mukesh. She adds that her father was also out of the country at the time.
Oswal contends that the raid centred on Mukesh, who previously worked as a chef and crew member for the family. She alleges that during the incident, Vishnu verbally abused her in Hindi and was allowed to record videos on the premises despite her request that the police remove him.
She is seeking Shs 532.7 million as compensation for the allegedly seized jewellery and $1 million (about Shs 3.5 billion) for alleged violations of her constitutional and human rights.
Oswal also claims that Mukesh had earlier stolen her mother’s jewellery, valued at $150,000, which was recovered from his quarters on the company premises in August 2024. She alleges that police later took the items as exhibits and that they have not been returned despite repeated requests.
She further states that while she was speaking to her parents on the phone, Bbaale forcefully grabbed her and pushed her into an unmarked vehicle.
“I was being detained and arrested because of my father, Mr Pankaj Oswal, who was not in Uganda. I was effectively being held as a state hostage at the request of Swiss Police’s Pauline Chevenard to compel my father to return to Uganda,” she states.
According to the affidavits, the initial charge against her was kidnapping with intent to murder. However, she claims the case file was later amended to reflect human trafficking in line with the Interpol Yellow Notice, allegedly to conceal what she describes as the original baseless charge.
Oswal further contends that Chevenard issued the Interpol notice based on anonymous emails without conducting a thorough investigation.
She adds that while she was on remand, her parents entered into a settlement agreement with Mukesh on October 15, 2024. Under the agreement, he was released from repaying a loan owed to them and allowed to retain $200,000 and a St. Lucian passport acquired for him. Despite the settlement, she alleges, Mukesh and his son did not withdraw what she describes as false complaints.
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