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L**Background:**
I’m **19 years old**, studying, and trying to deal with a situation that feels completely overwhelming. Last year, my father tragically **took his own life**, and since then, my family has been struggling with both emotional pain and serious financial issues. One of the biggest problems we’re facing is a **land dispute case** that my father had been fighting before his death.### **The Situation:**
Around **five years ago**, my father paid **₹2 lakh in cash** to a man he believed to be a lawyer, to help with a property dispute. The payment happened during a **family meeting**, with my **mother and grandmother** present as witnesses. The lawyer assured us that the case would be resolved quickly, **within six months**. We trusted him, but years passed without any updates, and the case seemed to be stuck in limbo.### **The Reality:**
When my father passed away, we tried to follow up, but we were met with **complete avoidance** from the lawyer and his wife. To make matters worse, it was only after my father’s death that I found out **the man we paid isn’t actually a licensed lawyer**—his wife is. This discovery came after I started **asking questions** about the progress of the case. The lawyer had always made excuses: first it was his **health problems**, claiming he needed **bypass surgery**, and later, he blamed **elections** and other delays. But now, looking back, I wonder if the case was never even properly started.### **Current Situation:**
Now, with my father gone, the lawyer and his wife have essentially disappeared. **They’re not answering our calls, not responding to our messages**, and there’s been no effort to meet or provide updates. There was **no written agreement**—just verbal promises and my father’s trust in them. We’ve been left with nothing but **empty promises and no progress** on the case.### **What I’m Struggling With:**
My family is in **financial distress**, and I feel completely helpless in this situation. The **₹2 lakh** we gave to this man is a significant amount, and without it, we’re struggling even more. I don’t know if we have a case or if there’s any way to **recover the money**. I’m also not sure what legal options are available, considering the man isn’t actually a lawyer.### **My Questions:**
– **Can I take legal action** against the man who took the money, even though he isn’t a licensed lawyer?
– Can I **hold his wife accountable** for professional misconduct if she’s complicit in this?
– Should I try to find **other victims** of this lawyer, or people who might have gone through similar situations with them?
– **What can I do next**? I feel lost and completely overwhelmed. Any advice or guidance would be a huge help.**TL;DR:**
My father **paid ₹2 lakh in cash** to a man who claimed to be a lawyer for a land dispute case. After my father **died by suicide**, we discovered the man isn’t a real lawyer—his wife is—and now they’ve stopped responding, and we’ve received no updates or documents. I don’t know how to take legal action or recover the money. **What should I do?** -
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HIf the payment was made through a bank or a proper channel, you may have some legal remedies. However, if the payment was made in cash, you will not be able to pursue the matter. My response assumes that the payment was made through a bank or an official channel.
Firstly, if the man falsely represented himself as a lawyer, convinced you to pay Rs. 2 lakh, and assured you that the case would be resolved within six months, he will be liable for cheating and possibly for criminal breach of trust depending on how he used the funds. You should consider filing a complaint against him and his wife.
Secondly, verify whether the wife has actually filed the case as promised. If it turns out that she has not filed the case, you may lodge a complaint with the Bar Council against her for professional misconduct.
Please be mindful that there has been a significant delay (around 5 years) between the payment and the initiation of any legal action. This delay impacts the strength of your case and the potential outcome. However, you should be able to justify the delay by demonstrating that only recently you guys discovered the fraud or deception.
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