Archive · 13 Jun 2025
Mahatma Gandhi's Descendant Jailed for Forgery: The Story
Ashish Lata Ramgobin, a relative of Mahatma Gandhi, went to jail.
She tricked a businessman, SR Maharaj, into giving her money by saying she needed it to pay for goods coming from India.
She showed him fake papers to make it look like the goods were real.
Maharaj found out the documents were fake and that he had been tricked.
She was sentenced to seven years in prison for the crime.
The case is back in the news because a musician, Hans Zimmer, posted something on social media about Gandhi.
Ashish Lata Ramgobin, Mahatma Gandhi's great-granddaughter, was sentenced to 7 years in jail in 2021.
She was found guilty of a Rs 3.22 crore fraud and forgery case by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
Ramgobin was accused of duping businessman SR Maharaj, who provided her with an advance for clearing import duties.
She allegedly forged documents to convince Maharaj about a shipment of linens from India.
The case resurfaced due to composer Hans Zimmer's Instagram post referencing Mahatma Gandhi.
- Who
- Ashish Lata Ramgobin, great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi.
- What
- Ashish Lata Ramgobin was sentenced to jail for fraud and forgery.
- When
- Sentenced in 2021, case resurfaced in June 2025.
- Where
- Durban, South Africa.
- Why
- She was found guilty of defrauding a businessman.
- Defendant
- Ashish Lata Ramgobin
- Relationship
- Great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi
- Crime
- Fraud and Forgery
- Sentence
- 7 years in jail
- Amount of fraud
- Rs 3.22 crore
- Victim
- SR Maharaj
- Court
- Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court