Indian‑origin couple sentenced in UK for breaching long director ban and misusing company roles

An Indian‑origin couple has been sentenced by a UK court for flouting a director disqualification order , continuing to run and control companies for more than five years despite a binding legal ban that was imposed after tax fraud claims.

Seventy‑one‑year‑old Bharat Jogia , from the West Midlands region of England, was originally disqualified as a director for 13 years in 2014 after he did not dispute that he caused Jogia Jewellers (UK) Limited to wrongly claim over £2 million from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). That director's disqualification should have barred him from running, managing or promoting any UK‑registered company until 2027, but investigators from the UK’s Insolvency Service found he ignored the ban and continued to control two firms in all but name.

Jogia exerted influence over Diamond Pharma Limited and BHJ Consulting Ltd , instructing lawyers, approving accounts, signing contracts, managing employees and receiving more than £80,000 in consultancy fees for Diamond Pharma, which later accumulated over £445,000 in tax debts , prompting HMRC to seek its winding‑up.

His wife, 57‑year‑old Louise Jogia , was found to have “aided and abetted” his breach by acting as the official director of BHJ Consulting while her husband continued to make key business decisions. Investigators also found the company’s bank account was used to pay the couple’s personal bills .

At Birmingham Crown Court , Bharat Jogia was given a nine‑month prison sentence , suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work , along with an additional 10‑year director disqualification . Louise Jogia received a seven‑month suspended prison sentence and was also banned from serving as a company director for 10 years. The suspended sentences mean the couple will avoid immediate custodial time provided they commit no further offences and comply with court requirements.

The Insolvency Service stressed that director bans are designed to protect creditors, employees and business confidence by keeping those deemed unfit out of corporate roles, and that ignoring such bans is a serious criminal offence . They have said they are now pursuing confiscation of funds from the Jogias under the UK’s Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 .