An Indian-origin woman, whose 23-year divorce battle has been called one of the longest in UK legal history, has won a £6.6 million settlement after a High Court judgment.
Background of the Case
Varsha Gohil filed for divorce in May 2002. After accepting an initial modest settlement, she discovered assets that her lawyer-husband, Bhadresh Gohil, had failed to declare. Her legal pursuit was interrupted by a money-laundering investigation, which led to Bhadresh being sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010 for his involvement in a corruption case linked to a client in Nigeria.
Legal Proceedings and Confiscation Order
The UK Crown Prosecution Service pursued a Confiscation Order over nearly £28 million in funds tied to the husband's criminal activity. However, the ex-wife's legitimate share in the untainted marital assets remained unresolved. The UK Court of Appeal last month ended the lengthy courtroom drama by ruling out further appeals, allowing a High Court judgment from 2024 to take effect.
High Court Ruling
Justice Williams stated in the ruling dated May 28, 2025: "The husband's conduct is at the highest end of the scale in terms of dishonesty and its consequences." He noted that the wife, now nearing retirement age, has endured health problems but remains financially afloat. The judge identified a marital pool of untainted realisable assets worth around £6,663,172, compared to total realisable assets of £27,967,337.48, representing just 23.82%.
Regarding the length of proceedings, Justice Williams remarked that the name Gohil will "linger long in the memories of lawyers and judges across a range of jurisdictions" due to the tortuous path of the case.
Varsha Gohil's Persistence
Varsha Gohil, now 61 and based in London, suspected that her husband had not disclosed all his assets despite a legal obligation to do so. The CPS argued that all assets were proceeds of crime and should be subject only to criminal recovery. However, the High Court found that some assets were from legitimate businesses during the marriage, entitling the wife to a share.
Justice Williams took serious note of Bhadresh Gohil's failure to disclose his true wealth, which caused "devastation that the litigation and his criminality have wrought" on his family.
