- By Vaidika Thapa
- Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:12 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A divorce case that began in London in the early 2000s has finally concluded after more than two decades, resulting in a multi-million-pound settlement for Indian-origin woman Varsha Gohil. The long-running legal battle involved allegations of hidden assets, money laundering, and multiple court rulings in the UK.
Indian-Origin Woman Wins Rs 85 Crore
According to news agency PTI report, citing Daily Mail, a UK-based newspaper, she has received one of the largest divorce settlements in recent British legal history. Gohil, now 61, has been awarded a 6.6 million pounds (around Rs 85 crore) settlement against her ex-husband, Bhadresh Gohil. She filed for divorce in May 2002, citing adultery and unreasonable behaviour.
The couple had been married for several years and had three children. The divorce was initially settled quickly, with Varsha receiving around 270,000 pounds (Rs 3.47 crore) and a Peugeot car. However, the matter did not end there. After the settlement, she suspected that her husband had not fully disclosed his wealth, despite legal requirements during divorce proceedings.
About The Case
The situation changed in the late 2000s when Bhadresh became involved in an international money laundering and corruption investigation. He had worked as a solicitor for associates of former Nigerian governor James Ibori and was later accused of helping launder millions of pounds through offshore accounts. He was convicted of money laundering, forgery, and conspiracy to defraud, and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2011.
The investigation revealed hidden assets worth nearly 28 million pounds (Rs 360 crore), which authorities believed were linked to criminal activity. Gohil used this development to challenge the original divorce settlement. In 2015, the UK Supreme Court allowed her to reopen the case, ruling that a spouse who hides financial information cannot benefit from that deception.
What Did The Court Say?
However, the case continued for years due to disputes over whether the assets were criminal proceeds or legitimate wealth. The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service argued that the money should be confiscated as crime proceeds, while she claimed that part of it came from legitimate business activities during the marriage.
Eventually, the High Court ruled that some of the assets were legitimate marital wealth. Justice Williams concluded that about 6.66 million pounds were untainted and awarded it to her. “The husband’s conduct is at the highest end of the scale in terms of dishonesty and its consequences,” the judge was quoted as saying. He also described Bhadresh Gohil as “thoroughly and pervasively dishonest.”
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