Divorce struggle of Indian-origin couple in the UK spans 23 years: Former wife awarded £6.6 million after husband concealed £28 million wealth.

A lengthy divorce battle spanning 23 years between an Indian-origin couple in the UK has culminated in a significant court ruling, awarding Varsha Gohil £6.6 million. This decision follows years of litigation concerning a concealed fortune estimated at £28 million. The dispute originated in 2002 when Varsha filed for divorce from her husband, Bhadresh Gohil, citing adultery and unreasonable behavior. Initially, she accepted a financial settlement of £270,000, which included the family’s Peugeot, as reported by The Sun.

Varsha later became convinced that Bhadresh had not fully disclosed his wealth during the divorce proceedings, which is a legal requirement under UK law. In 2007, she returned to court to challenge the original settlement, presenting evidence that suggested Bhadresh had hidden significant assets. The case took a pivotal turn in 2011 when Bhadresh was convicted of money laundering and forgery, receiving a ten-year prison sentence. Subsequently, the Crown Prosecution Service froze assets worth approximately £28 million, believed to be concealed globally.

The legal proceedings then shifted focus to whether these frozen assets should be considered part of the couple's marital wealth. Varsha's case eventually reached the UK Supreme Court, where it was heard alongside that of Alison Sharland, who had similar claims regarding undisclosed assets. The Supreme Court's ruling allowed both women to reopen their financial settlements and pursue new claims, marking a significant victory for Varsha.

Despite this progress, the financial dispute remained unresolved for several years due to challenges faced by the Crown Prosecution Service in tracing and recovering the assets. A new High Court hearing finally took place in 2023, where Bhadresh contended that the frozen fortune did not belong to him and should not be included in the divorce settlement. Varsha argued that the wealth was accumulated during their marriage and should be factored into the asset division.

In a decisive ruling, Mr. Justice Williams determined that the Crown Prosecution Service had not sufficiently proven that the entire £28 million was derived from criminal activity. He concluded that some assets were linked to legitimate businesses established during the marriage, thus qualifying as part of the couple's wealth. The judge awarded Varsha £6.6 million and criticized Bhadresh as "pervasively dishonest," stating that his self-portrayal as a wronged family man was "so very far from the truth." This ruling effectively concludes one of Britain's longest-running divorce disputes, bringing closure to a protracted legal saga.