Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter Lata Ramgobin has been sentenced to 7 years in South Africa for defrauding ₹3.22 crore using fake import documents. Her appeal was denied by the court.
Durban | South Africa —
In a case that has stunned many, Ashish Lata Ramgobin, the great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, has been sentenced to 7 years in prison by South Africa’s Durban Specialized Commercial Crimes Court for committing a multi-crore financial fraud.
The court found 56-year-old Lata guilty of defrauding businessman S. R. Maharaj of ₹3.22 crore (6.2 million South African Rand) by submitting fake import documents and misleading him with fabricated paperwork and emails.
The 2015 Fraud Case
In 2015, Lata had told Maharaj—director of New Africa Alliance Footwear Distributors—that she was importing linen from India in three containers for the private hospital group Netcare. She claimed the amount was needed to cover customs and clearance charges.
Trusting her family background and the detailed documentation she presented—including fake purchase orders, invoices, delivery notes, and bank confirmations—Maharaj transferred the money. However, the goods never arrived and the paperwork was later proven false.
Legal Action and Verdict
Once the fraud became clear, Maharaj filed a police complaint. A full investigation led by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) uncovered that Lata had forged documents to execute a calculated financial scam.
According to NPA spokesperson Natasha Kara, Lata not only used fake emails and bills but also took advantage of the respect her family name commanded. The court found her guilty beyond doubt and even denied her request to appeal the sentence.
Background and Irony
At the time of the crime, Lata was the director of the ‘Participatory Development Initiative’ at the International Centre for Nonviolence. She publicly identified with causes related to social justice, politics, and the environment—making the case even more ironic and disheartening.
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