A business family from Sehore district in Madhya Pradesh has begun exploring legal options to recover a ₹35,000 war loan allegedly given to the British administration in 1917. The claim is based on a historical certificate preserved within the family, which is said to be evidence of investment under the Indian War Loan scheme. The family is now considering sending a legal notice to the British government.
Century-Old War Loan Certificate Discovered
Sehore-based businessman Vivek Ruthia said the information came to light after examining old documents preserved in the family following his father’s death. According to him, a certificate dating back to around 1917 was found in the name of his grandfather, Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia. The document reportedly states that he had provided a ₹35,000 war loan to support British administrative and war-related expenses.
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The family claims that media reports suggest the British government had settled some war loan bonds related to World War I and World War II. They argue that if a portion of the war-era loan remains unpaid, their family should also be entitled to its share. However, legal experts say that such extremely old financial claims may face challenges due to limitation laws and international jurisdiction issues.
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Certificate Signed by British Political Agent
The certificate in the family’s possession is said to bear the signature of WS Davis, the then political agent of the Bhopal Agency. The document reportedly mentions that Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia had invested in the Indian War Loan scheme as a sign of loyalty to the British administration. The family believes this historical record could strengthen their claim.
Legal Notice Planned to UK Government
Vivek Ruthia stated that the family was not aware of this old loan earlier. The certificate surfaced only after reviewing family documents following his father’s demise. After this discovery, the family has started consulting legal experts and is in touch with specialists in Indian and international law.
Sources indicate that the family is planning to send an official legal notice to the British government, although no formal case has yet been filed in any court. Legal experts believe that such historical financial claims may be difficult to pursue in courts due to statute-of-limitations issues and questions of jurisdiction.
It is noteworthy that in March 2015, the British government reportedly released about 1.9 billion pounds as part of the settlement of war-era bonds. This payment was considered the final settlement of certain loans raised during World War I and World War II. The family claims that a portion of the war loan corpus collected during the war period may still be outstanding.
The Ruthia family’s history is also associated with property ownership in the Sehore and Bhopal regions. According to the family, they were among the affluent business families of the area in the past and still claim ownership of some properties in the city, which are allegedly under illegal possession.
Currently, the matter remains a topic of historical and legal discussion. Experts say that if the family approaches an international court or other legal forum, the authenticity of the documents, the contractual status of the loan, and the jurisdictional validity of the claim will need thorough verification first. For now, all attention remains on the next legal step regarding this century-old war loan claim.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
