Rakesh Madappa said that the family’s hopes of securing Sunil’s release faded after their meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, as they did not hear of any developments in the case for days after that. However, K Jeeva Sagar — the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana — played a crucial role in bringing about the breakthrough.

Rakesh Madappa, brother-in-law of Sunil James, has been following up with authorities since his arrest in Togo. Pic/Nimesh Dave