- By Aditya Jha
- Wed, 25 Feb 2026 02:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Madhya Pradesh businessman has claimed that his grandfather had given a loan of Rs 35,000 to the Britishers during the First World War, further alleging that the amount was never repaid. Vivek Ruthia, a 63-year-old businessman, has claimed that Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia, his grandfather and a prominent businessman, had given the money to political agent WS Dawis in Bhopal back in 1917. Ruthia further asserted that he is exploring legal options to get the amount back from the United Kingdom; however, the legal experts have flagged complexities in the process.
The 63-year-old businessman stated that his grandfather was involved in philanthropic activities, adding that no document suggests that he got the amount back. Ruthia further stated that while his father did not bother to get the money back, he has been exploring legal options. He further stated that he found the documents while searching for other family documents.
Exploring Legal Options: Vivek Ruthia
"My grandfather was into charity. This was a loan given to the British government during the war and it was never returned. My father never pursued it, but I am exploring legal options now. I will move to recover the money with interest as per statues of present-day law," Ruthia stated.
The family stated that Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia passed away almost two decades after providing the loan, adding that the British left in 1947 without paying it back. Vivek Ruthia stated that if calculated at 5.5 per cent annual compound interest for 109 years, the amount would rise to crores. However, he has not legally challenged the issue and is still exploring if he can demand the money from a sovereign state.
However, the legal experts have pointed out that the claim would face several challenges, including limitation laws, sovereign immunity, and cross-border jurisdiction.