Diamond trader Dhiru Ramani freed in Mali after family pays €4 million ransom
Indian-origin diamond businessman Dhiru Ramani, 75, was allegedly abducted in Mali in April while overseeing a gold‑mining project. Kidnappers initially demanded around Rs 100 crore, but his US‑based family negotiated the sum down to €4 million (about $4.5 million or Rs 44 crore).
The ransom was paid last week, securing Ramani’s release. He remains in Mali, where local police are questioning him about the circumstances of his release. No Indian government agency took part in the negotiations, and the Indian Embassy in Bamako had earlier issued a security advisory urging Indian nationals in Mali to stay vigilant.
Entities: Dhiru Ramani · India · Indian Embassy in Bamako · Mali · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ramani’s family paid a ransom of €4 million (about ₹44 crore) for his release. (Sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The negotiations were handled by Ramani’s US‑based family without involvement of any Indian government agency. (Sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The kidnappers originally demanded around ₹100 crore, but the amount was negotiated down to €4 million. (Sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ramani was held captive for about three months before being released. (Sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Dhiru Ramani, a 75‑year‑old Indian‑origin diamond businessman, was kidnapped in Mali in April. (Sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Indian Embassy in Bamako issued a security advisory on 25 April urging Indian nationals in Mali to stay vigilant. (Embassy advisory)
- [● 4 SOURCES] After his release, Ramani remains in Mali and is being questioned by local authorities. (Sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] No Indian government agency was involved in the ransom negotiations. (source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Dhiru Ramani, a 75‑year‑old Indian-origin diamond businessman, was abducted in Mali in April 2024. (source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ramani hails from Dhar (Dal) village in Amreli district, Gujarat, has been in the diamond trade since around 1980, and recently invested in a gold mine in Mali. (source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] After the ransom was paid, Ramani was released last week and remains in Mali. (source)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Indian Embassy in Bamako issued a security advisory on April 25 urging Indian nationals in Mali to stay vigilant. (source)