Indian-origin diamond merchant abducted in Mali, freed after family pays Euro 4 million ransom

An Indian-origin diamond businessman allegedly kidnapped in Mali in April has been released after his family paid a whopping Euro 4 million (nearly Rs 44 crore) ransom. The abductors initially demanded around Rs 100 crore, but 75-year-old diamond merchant Dhiru Ramani’s family members, who live in the US, negotiated the amount down before securing his release.

Around the time of the alleged kidnapping in April, the Indian Embassy in Bamako, the capital of Mali, issued a general security advisory urging Indian nationals living there to exercise caution. “Due to recent security developments and reported attacks in Kati and other parts of Mali, the Embassy of India in Bamako urges all Indian nationals residing in Mali to remain highly vigilant, exercise utmost caution, stay indoors, and strictly follow the instructions issued by the Malian authorities from time to time,” the advisory dated April 25 had said. The advisory, however, did not refer to any specific incident or individual.

Ramani’s US-based family handled the negotiations independently; no Indian government agency was involved in the process, as per the source. He is originally from Dhar village in Amreli district and has been associated with the diamond business since around 1980. He later moved to the United States, where his family is engaged in the international diamond trade.