Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter sentenced to 7 years in prison

Mahatma Gandhi’s great-granddaughter, Ashish Lata Ramgobin, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a South African court in Durban in a six-million rand fraud and forgery case. Lata Ramgobin was the founder and executive director of the Participative Development Initiative at the NGO International Centre for Non-Violence.

56-year-old Lata Ramgobin was accused of defrauding businessman SR Maharaj after he advanced R6.2 million (approximately Rs. 3.3 crore) to her for allegedly clearing import and Customs duties for a non-existent consignment from India while he was promised a share of profits. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Kara reportedly said, “Lata Ramgobin said she was experiencing financial difficulties to pay for import costs and customs and she needed the money to clear the goods at the harbour.”

“She told him [Maharaj] that she needed R6.2 million. To convince him, she showed him what she claimed was a signed purchase order for the goods. Later that month, she sent him what seemed to be a NetCare invoice and delivery note as proof that the goods were delivered and payment was imminent. Lata Ramgobin further sent him confirmation from NetCare’s bank account that payment had been made,” the NPA spokesperson added.