VOI World/ Desk
An Indian-origin woman in the United Kingdom has won a legal settlement worth approximately ₹85 crore, bringing an end to what is believed to be one of Britain’s longest-running divorce battles.
Varsha Gohil was awarded £6.6 million after a court found that her former husband, solicitor Bhadresh Gohil, had concealed a substantial fortune during divorce proceedings that began in 2002. The case stretched across more than two decades, multiple appeals and even reached the UK Supreme Court, becoming a landmark dispute over financial disclosure in divorce settlements.
When the couple initially divorced, Varsha accepted a settlement of £270,000 and a family car. However, she later suspected that her ex-husband had failed to disclose the full extent of his wealth. Her concerns gained credibility after Bhadresh Gohil was convicted in 2011 on money laundering and forgery charges, leading authorities to freeze assets worth an estimated £28 million that had been hidden through a network of companies.
Years of legal battles followed over whether the assets should be treated as criminal proceeds or considered part of the marital estate. Ultimately, the High Court ruled that some of the wealth belonged to Bhadresh during the marriage and should have been disclosed during the original divorce proceedings. The court described his conduct as dishonest and upheld the £6.6 million award to Varsha.
The ruling is being viewed as a significant victory for transparency in family law and reinforces the principle that spouses must fully disclose their assets during divorce proceedings. Legal observers say the case could continue to influence future disputes involving hidden wealth and financial deception.
