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Indian-origin diamond trader freed after €4 million ransom
Family reportedly negotiated release after nearly three months in captivity.
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Ankita Baidya - Mon, 27, Jul 2026
- 06:42 EDT
- 40
Dhiru Ramani was reportedly released after his family negotiated a ransom payment. / Unsplash
An Indian-origin diamond trader has reportedly been released in Mali nearly three months after he was allegedly abducted, according to reports from India.
Dhiru Ramani, 75, remains in Mali, where local authorities are reportedly questioning him about the circumstances surrounding his release.
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According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), citing a Surat-based source familiar with the developments, Ramani's US-based family negotiated with his abductors after an initial ransom demand of around Rs 100 crore. The report said the family ultimately paid €4 million (about Rs 44 crore) to secure his release earlier this week.
"He has been released, but he is still in Mali. The local police are questioning him about his release and the circumstances surrounding it," the source told PTI.
PTI reported that Ramani was allegedly abducted nearly three months ago while living in Mali, where he had recently acquired a gold mine.
Originally from Dhar village in Gujarat's Amreli district, Ramani entered Surat's diamond trade around 1980 before later moving to the United States, where his family is involved in the international diamond business.
The reported abduction comes amid deteriorating security conditions in Mali.
In an advisory issued on April 25, 2026, the Embassy of India in Bamako urged Indian nationals to remain vigilant following security incidents in Kati and other parts of the country.
"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 said.
The embassy said it was closely monitoring the security situation in coordination with Malian authorities and advised Indian nationals to stay updated through its official website and social media channels. It also urged Indian citizens residing in Mali to register with the mission.
The Embassy of India in Bamako separately condemned terrorist attacks in Mali on April 28, but neither the advisory nor the statement referred to Ramani's case.
Malian authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported abduction, release or ransom payment. It also remains unclear whether Ramani's alleged kidnapping was connected to the broader security situation in the country.
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