In a remarkable legal battle touted as Britain’s lengthiest divorce case, a mother of three has secured a £6.6 million settlement from her ex-husband, a convicted fraudster, concluding a 24-year feud.
Varsha Gohil, 61, residing in north London, initiated divorce proceedings against her former solicitor spouse Bhadresh Gohil in May 2002, citing adultery and unreasonable conduct. Initially, she accepted a financial agreement entailing a £270,000 payment and possession of the family’s Peugot vehicle. However, suspicions arose regarding Gohil concealing his true financial standing.
Over the subsequent two decades, Gohil’s concealed assets worth £28 million in various corporate entities worldwide came to light. This landmark divorce saga has witnessed multiple legal battles, with Gohil failing to disclose his complete financial portfolio during the divorce proceedings.
In a significant turn of events, Mrs. Gohil was granted a court victory after persistent efforts to challenge the original settlement, aided by her ex-husband’s conviction in 2011 for money laundering, forgery, and conspiracy to defraud. Bhadresh Gohil, a former solicitor linked to a substantial fraud and money-laundering operation, facilitated illicit transactions amounting to millions through his firm’s client accounts.
Legal proceedings culminated in the Supreme Court in 2015, permitting Mrs. Gohil to contest the initial settlement due to her ex-husband’s non-disclosure of assets. This ruling set a precedent, allowing spouses to challenge deceptive settlements if full financial disclosure is not provided.
Following years of litigation to recover frozen assets and resolve ownership disputes, the case reached the High Court in 2023. Arguments were presented by Mrs. Gohil, her ex-husband, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), with conflicting claims over the asset ownership.
Ultimately, Mr. Justice Williams determined that the assets belonged to Gohil, dismissing claims of criminal origins for the entire sum. Mrs. Gohil was awarded £6.6 million from the assets deemed legitimate and free from illicit activities.