Indian man stuck in Mali as employer fails to pay Rs 3 crore bail bond

The arrest was the result of a financial dispute arising between Gulhane's employer and a local Malian entity

• Indian worker jailed in Mali as employer delays Rs 3 crore bail
• Family says company assured bail but hasn't paid the bond
• MEA in touch with Mali, company for worker's release

Did our AI summary help?

A 42-year-old man working for a New-Delhi based firm has been stuck in Mali since February last year as the company has allegedly not paid the bond of Rs 3 crore required to secure his bail, despite making assurances to the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

According to a report in The Indian Express, Nitin Gulhane started working for New Delhi-based Aar Ess Exim Pvt Ltd (AEEPL) as a project manager in June 2022 and was posted to Mali in November that year as his company was executing hydropower and electricity distribution projects for a local Malian entity.

Gulhane’s wife Priyanka told The Indian Express that as project manager, Gulhane was overseeing the electrification of 22 villages in Djenne, on behalf of AEEPL. A financial dispute arose between AEEPL and Energy du Mali, following which the latter filed a complaint over the validity of certain bank guarantees provided by AEEPL. By the time Gulhane joined the company, the tendering for the project was already done by then.

According to Priyanka, Gulhane was arrested on February 25 last year, days after he landed in Mali’s capital Bamako after a couple of months off for his wife’s delivery and an angioplasty procedure. AEEPL vice-president Rajesh Ramachandran too was arrested.

On August 15 last year, Gulhane got bail on a bond of FCFA 200,000,000 (approximately Rs 3.25 crore), an amount that was to be borne by the AEEPL management, said Priyanka.

“My husband was neither involved, nor had the decision-making authority in this matter. His role was strictly limited to execution of the project in line with the specifications, timelines and budgets,” said Priyanka.

However, there has been no such relief so far. Infact, Priyanka claims AEEPL has been paying only half the salary due to Gulhane since his arrest, and that she has to often plead with the company to meet his medical expenses in Kenioroba Prison.

According to Priyanka, Gulhane is a heart patient, also suffering from diabetes and hypertension, with a history of angioplasty. His health deteriorated severely in prison due to inadequate medical care.

In September, officials in the MEA’s Central and West Africa division had a meeting with AEEPL Managing Director Rajendra Mishra. “Mishra has been postponing the deadline given by the ministry and giving excuses for not arranging the bail amount… The authorities should extend diplomatic and legal support to my husband," said Priyanka.

Sources in the ministry said they were “in touch with the government in Mali and also with the company to do the needful”.

AEEPL MD Mishra said, “We are waiting for official communication in this regard and a certified copy of the orders...We are keeping the Ministry apprised."