Indian-origin diamond trader freed after family pays Rs 44 crore ransom in Mali kidnapping
Dhiru Ramani originally belonged to the Dhar village in Gujarat’s Amreli district. (Photo: X)A 75-year-old Indian-origin diamond trader who was kidnapped in conflict-hit Mali has been freed after his family reportedly paid a €4 million (around Rs 44 crore) ransom. The businessman, originally from Gujarat, was allegedly held for nearly three months after purchasing a gold mine in the West African nation.
The kidnappers had first demanded around Rs 100 crore for Ramani’s release, but his family, who live in the US, negotiated the figure down before securing his freedom. The ransom of 4 million euros was paid last week to win his release in the West African country, according to the report.
Where is Ramani now?
Ramani, who comes from Gujarat’s Amreli district and is linked to the diamond trade in Surat, is reported to still be in Mali, where local authorities are questioning him following his release. “He has been released, but he is still in Mali.
The local police are questioning him about his release and the circumstances surrounding it,” a source told PTI.
Ramani’s US-based family managed the negotiations on their own, with no Indian government agency involved in the process, the source added.
Story continues below this ad
Who is Dhiru Ramani?
Ramani hails from Dhar village in Amreli district and has been connected to the diamond business since around 1980.
He later moved to the United States, where his family runs an international diamond trading business.
Had a warning been issued earlier?
Around the time of the alleged kidnapping in April, the Indian Embassy in Bamako, Mali’s capital, had issued a general security advisory urging Indian nationals in the country to stay cautious, according to PTI.
The advisory, dated 25 April, pointed to recent security developments and reported attacks in Kati and other parts of Mali, and urged Indian nationals to remain vigilant, stay indoors, and follow instructions from Malian authorities. The advisory did not refer to any specific incident or individual.
With inputs from PTI
