Ashish Lata Ramgobin, the 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. Mahatma Gandhi's great-granddaughter was sentenced by a Durban court after she was found guilty in the fraud case.

Ashish Lata Ramgobin was accused of defrauding businessman SR Maharaj after he advanced R6.2 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, PTI reported.

Lata Ramgobin, daughter of noted rights activists Ela Gandhi and late Mewa Ramgobind, was also refused leave to appeal both the conviction and the sentence by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court.