UK court awards ₹8 crore settlement to Indian-origin woman after 23-year divorce battle
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A divorce dispute that reportedly lasted more than 23 years has finally concluded in the United Kingdom, with an Indian-origin woman being awarded £6.6 million, which is approximately ₹8 crore following one of the longest-running matrimonial legal battles in British history.
The case involved London-based Varsha Gohil and her former husband, Bhadresh Gohil, a lawyer who was later convicted in a money-laundering case linked to a Nigerian corruption scandal, as per reports.
The prolonged legal proceedings spanned multiple courts and jurisdictions, with criminal investigations and asset recovery actions significantly delaying a final settlement.
Varsha initiated divorce proceedings in 2002 and initially agreed to a modest settlement. However, she later raised concerns that her former husband had failed to fully disclose his assets, prompting years of further litigation.
In 2010, Bhadresh Gohil was reportedly sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted in connection with a corruption case linked to a client in Nigeria. The criminal proceedings complicated the divorce case, as courts had to determine which assets were legitimate marital property and which were linked to criminal activity.
The dispute moved closer to resolution after the UK Court of Appeal ruled that no further appeals would be allowed, paving the way for a High Court judgment to take effect. The court found that part of the assets represented legitimate business interests accumulated during the marriage and therefore formed part of the marital estate, as per reports.
In his judgment, the judge reportedly criticised Bhadresh Gohil's conduct, describing it as being at “the highest end of the scale” in terms of dishonesty and its consequences. The judge also noted the extraordinary duration of the proceedings, stating that the Gohil case would remain memorable among lawyers and judges due to its complex and lengthy legal journey.
The ruling brings an end to a legal battle that stretched across more than two decades, with the court recognising Varsha Gohil's entitlement to a share of the couple's legitimate marital assets despite the wider criminal proceedings surrounding her former husband.
