An Indian-origin couple have been jailed in the UK after they continued to run companies for more than five years despite being legally prohibited from doing so. Bharat Gogia, 71, from the West Midlands in England, was removed from his 13-year position as a company director in 2014.
He accepted a disqualification bond after admitting he caused Jogia Jewelers (UK) Limited to wrongly claim more than £2 million from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of a tax fraud scheme.Despite the ban, Jogja continued to control two pharmaceutical companies, Diamond Pharma Limited and BHJ Consulting Ltd. His actions were discovered when both companies later ran into financial difficulties.Gogia’s wife, Louise Gogia, 57, was convicted of aiding her husband. She was listed as the official director of BHJ Consulting, but it was her husband who actually ran the company.Mark Stevens, a senior investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Bharath Gogia showed complete contempt for the law by breaching its ban on disqualifying a director for more than five years.” He added: “Louise Goggia acted as a front to protect her husband, providing signed documents and support when needed.”
Stevens added that ignoring the exclusion is a serious offense and damages confidence in UK businesses.Goggia’s original disqualification was supposed to prevent him from running, managing or promoting any UK-registered company until 2027. He was sentenced to nine months in prison and suspended for 18 months. Jogia must also complete 100 hours of unpaid community work and is banned from acting as a company director for a further 10 years.His wife was sentenced to seven months in prison, also suspended for 18 months, and banned from directing for 10 years.The couple avoids prison time only if they commit no further crimes and comply with court orders.Records show that Jogia signed the exclusion undertaking in June 2014, admitting his role in the fraudulent claims made by Jogia Jewelers (UK) Limited. The agreement prevented him from participating in establishing, marketing, or managing any company.Investigators found that from the start of his disqualification until mid-2019, Gogia continued to operate Diamond Pharma and BHJ Consulting in all but name. He engaged the lawyers, approved accounts, approved agreements and managed staff for Diamond Pharma, and received consulting fees in excess of £80,000.“Under Gogia’s management, Diamond Pharma Limited also acquired more than £445,000 in tax debts,” the Insolvency Service said.
HMRC moved to wind up the company as a result.For BHJ Consulting, Louise Goggia provided the company’s trading history to the liquidators. Although she was listed as a manager, her husband handled tasks such as relaying instructions, IT-related decisions, and supplier payments. Bank records also showed that the company account was used to pay the couple’s personal bills.
