Believe it or not: 109 years later, man demands his money back from Britain

A dusty family document from 1917 has launched what might be the oddest debt-collection attempt in history. In Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, Vivek Ruthia found a certificate showing his grandfather Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia lent Rs 35,000 to the British colonial administration during World War I – money that was never repaid. Adjusted for interest and inflation, the family says the sum could now be worth crores, and they’re preparing to send a legal notice to the UK.

From war loan to crore claim
The 109-year-old certificate – signed on 4 June 1917 by British political agent WS Davis – records the “Indian War Loan” subscription. Ruthia’s grandfather, then a prominent businessman in Bhopal and Sehore, advanced the funds to help the empire’s war effort. Today, his grandson argues that international law should honour the obligation, though experts say sovereign immunity and statutes of limitation could complicate any claim.

Cash or comedy?
Online reaction has been a mix of enthusiastic treasure hunt and legal reality check. Some users cheered “get every paisa back!” and joked about compound interest turning the loan into tens of crores, while others pointed out that suing a modern state over a century-old bond might be history’s weirdest legal battle — or just a viral stunt.

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