Varsha Gohil, 61, first filed for divorce from her husband Bhadresh Gohil in May 2002, citing his infidelity. She accepted an initial financial settlement of 270,000 pounds and the family's Peugeot car.
However, during the divorce proceedings, Varsha, then 37 and a mother of three, suspected her husband had not fully disclosed his assets. Under UK law, individuals undergoing divorce must declare all assets and income.
In 2007, Varsha petitioned to overturn the initial financial settlement after collecting evidence of her husband's deception.
In 2011, Bhadresh was convicted of money laundering, forgery, and conspiracy to defraud, receiving a 10-year prison sentence. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) subsequently froze 28 million pounds in assets that Bhadresh had concealed across a global network of companies and organizations.
The former couple engaged in continuous litigation, filing appeals to review the initial asset division. This protracted dispute eventually reached the Supreme Court.
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Varsha Gohil smiles after winning her case against ex-husband Bhadresh Gohil. Photo: PA |
A landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2015 granted Varsha the right to a new hearing to determine her rightful share of assets. The judges affirmed that spouses who fail to provide full and honest financial disclosures should not benefit from their deception.
Challenges faced by the CPS in tracing and recovering Bhadresh's assets delayed the case, with a High Court hearing finally opening in 2023.
In court, the legal battle focused on ownership of the multi-million pound assets. Bhadresh claimed the assets were not his, arguing Varsha had no legal basis to demand a share.
Varsha maintained the assets were her husband's during their marriage. The CPS, however, contended that Bhadresh accumulated the wealth through illegal proceeds, making the assets subject to recovery under criminal property regulations and thus not transferable to Varsha.
The judge ruled the disputed assets belonged to Bhadresh, noting the CPS failed to prove the entire 28 million pounds originated solely from criminal activity. The judge highlighted that some assets were legitimate businesses established during the marriage.
On 28/5, the court ruled that Varsha was entitled to assets worth 6.6 million pounds.
Tue Anh (Source: The Sun, Mirror)
