Indian-origin couple's 23-year UK divorce battle ends with ex-wife winning £6.6m after husband hid £28m fortune

A protracted 23-year divorce battle between an Indian-origin couple in the UK has finally concluded, with the ex-wife, Varsha Gohil, awarded £6.6 million. The substantial settlement comes after years of litigation focused on a hidden fortune estimated at £28 million.

The dispute originated in 2002 when Varsha Gohil filed for divorce from Bhadresh Gohil, citing adultery and unreasonable behavior. Initially, she accepted a settlement of £270,000 and a car. However, Varsha later suspected her former husband had not fully disclosed his wealth, a crucial requirement under UK law for financial settlements.

In 2007, she returned to court seeking to overturn the original agreement, presenting evidence of concealed assets. The case took a significant turn in 2011 when Bhadresh was convicted of money laundering and forgery, receiving a 10-year prison sentence. Authorities froze approximately £28 million in assets believed to have been hidden globally.

“

pervasively dishonest

The legal battle then shifted to determining whether these frozen assets constituted marital wealth. Varsha's challenge eventually reached the UK Supreme Court, which allowed her and another claimant, Alison Sharland, to reopen their financial settlements. Despite this victory, the division of assets remained contentious for years.

In a 2023 High Court hearing, Bhadresh argued the frozen fortune was not his. Varsha contended it was accumulated during their marriage. Ultimately, Mr. Justice Williams ruled that prosecutors failed to prove the entire £28 million originated from criminal activity, finding some assets stemmed from legitimate businesses during the marriage. The judge awarded Varsha £6.6 million, describing Bhadresh as "pervasively dishonest."

“

so very far from the truth that it is hard to comprehend how he can put it forward