The chef was found in Tanzania after kidnapping scandal linked to wealthy family. It is said that Pankaj Oshwal and Basundra Oshwal smuggled the chef from the Ugandan border side illegally to the Tanzanian side of the street.
Indian chef Kumesh Menaria, who was allegedly kidnapped in Uganda, has been found near the Mutukula border in Tanzania, in what appears to be a case of blackmail and extortion.
Menaria’s family confirmed his location to local media, sharing recent photos, following his disappearance.
The case, first reported by NTV Uganda, involves a wealthy family headed by Pankaj Oswal, Menaria’s employer, who claims the kidnapping is linked to a ransom demand.
In an open letter to President Yoweri Museveni, Oswal accused the kidnappers of extortion, leading to the arrest of his daughter, Basundhara Oswal, and their lawyer, Rita Ngabire. Both were remanded to prison on October 11, charged with kidnapping Menaria with the intent to kill.
Menaria is currently being held by Tanzanian authorities at Shaka police station, roughly 20 kilometers from the Uganda-Tanzania border. The exact circumstances of his disappearance and how he ended up in Tanzania remain unclear.
Before relocating to Uganda, Menaria had reported mistreatment and restrictions on his personal freedom to Swiss authorities. After arriving in Uganda, he lost contact with his family, prompting a frantic search.
Authorities traced Menaria’s disappearance to an Oswal-owned factory, but by the time they gained access, he had already been moved. A vehicle linked to the kidnapping was later found near the Uganda-Tanzania border.
Adding to the complexity of the case, Oswal has accused Menaria of stealing valuable jewelry, raising questions about the chef’s legal situation in Tanzania.
