Great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi jailed for 7 years in a fraud case

June 8: Ashish Lata Ramgobin, 56-year-old great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi  has been jailed for seven years in a six-million rand (Rs 3.22 crore) fraud and forgery case in South Africa. Ramgobin is the daughter of renowned human rights activist Ela Gandhi and Late Mewa Ramgobind, who have both played instrumental roles in reviving the Phoenix Settlement established by Mahatma Gandhi during his tenure in South Africa.

When trial in the case against Lata Ramgobin started in 2015, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had said that she allegedly provided forged invoices and documents to convince potential investors that three containers of linen were being shipped in from India. At that time, Lata Ramgobin was released on a bail. However, on Monday, this great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi was sentenced by a Durban court (in South Africa) after she was found guilty in the fraud case.

Ashish Lata Ramgobin was accused of defrauding businessman SR Maharaj after he advanced 6.2 million to her for allegedly clearing import and Customs duties for a non-existent consignment from India. SR Maharaj was promised a share of profits. The businessman later laid criminal charges upon finding that the documents were forged.

Ramgobin was founder and executive director of the Participative Development Initiative at the NGO International Centre for Non-Violence, where she described herself as “an activist with a focus on environmental, societal and political interests.”

A number of other descendants of Mahatma Gandhi are human rights activists and among them are Lata Ramgobin’s cousins Kirti Menon, the late Satish Dhupelia, and Uma Dhupelia-Mesthrie. Ramgobin’s mother Ela Gandhi in particular, has been internationally recognised for her efforts, including national honours from both India and South Africa.