[Seeking Advice] Photographer fraud, 4 years false promises, no raw data. Police complaint filed. How to strengthen case before FIR?

[User_db7a535e]

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User_db7a535e
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April 27, 2026 at 12:05 am

# [Update] Photographer fraud — 4 years false promises, no raw data. FIR now being registered. Here’s the full timeline.

**Location:** Gujarat, India
**Original post:** February 2026
**Status as of 30th April 2026:** FIR being registered

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## ORIGINAL POST (Corrected)

I hired a local photographer for my two-day wedding in January 2022. Total contract was Rs. 1,10,000. I paid approximately Rs. 80,000 across multiple installments (GPay + cash). He never once asked for the remaining balance over 4 years — which we believe is itself an admission that he knew he had not fulfilled his obligations.

Even after 4 years, I have not received the complete raw data, especially the entire wedding videography, which remains missing.

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### Contract Scope

The contract included:
– Pre-wedding photography (one day shoot) with 10-day social media stories editing
– Family photo poster shoot before the wedding
– Two-day wedding coverage — candid photographers, cinematographers, both bride and groom sides
– Drone coverage
– Garba event coverage
– Two photo albums (350 pages each) with full editing for both sides

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### Key Issues

**Non-performance from the wedding day itself:**
He did not bring the agreed equipment (drone, high-end camera). When questioned, he threatened to stop coverage mid-event, causing public humiliation in front of some friends & guests. We were forced to continue under pressure with no alternative available.

**Pre-wedding deliverables — partially failed:**
The pre-wedding shoot itself went well. However, he was supposed to edit the photos into 10 days of social media stories. He did not do this — we had to self-edit 7 out of 10 days. The remaining few were done only after repeated follow-ups and were of very poor quality. The family poster shoot also happened much later than agreed — just one day before the wedding instead of a few days prior. We compromised on these issues at the time.

**Repeated false assurances over 4 years:**
Multiple deadlines were given and missed, including his last self-imposed deadline of 24th January 2026 — four years to the day after the wedding. When we followed up, calls went unanswered, messages were ignored, and queries were diverted to his assistant who also gave false promises about collecting data “on this day or that day” — none of which materialised.

**Subcontracting without resolution:**
The videography was subcontracted to a Mumbai-based videographer whose team covered the wedding. This contractor was never paid by the photographer despite 3+ years of follow-ups. Around mid 2025, this contractor contacted us directly stating:
– He had possession of the complete data (claimed ~300 GB at the time)
– He remained unpaid by the photographer
– There was serious risk of data deletion due to storage constraints

Our contract is only with the photographer. Any dispute between him and his subcontractor cannot affect our right to receive the complete deliverables.

**Inconsistent data claims by contractor:**
The contractor has since given inconsistent statements — claiming ~300 GB earlier, then ~178 GB later, and stating that the remaining data was returned to the photographer on a storage card. This raises serious concerns about data handling, loss, or suppression on the photographer’s part.

**Contradictory statements on payments — audio recorded:**
On multiple occasions, the photographer gave inconsistent versions of the amount received. At different times he claimed:
– Received only Rs. 60,000 total
– Rs. 40,000 came via online transfer
– Rs. 20,000 was paid by in-laws
– Rs. 20,000 was paid by a friend
– Only Rs. 35,000 was paid on the wedding day

These statements are mutually inconsistent. All are captured in audio recordings (in-person and other formats) in our possession, ready to be submitted with Section 65B certificates.

**Possible suppression of evidence:**
There is reason to believe remaining data exists on a storage card currently in the photographer’s possession, which he has never disclosed to us or to police.

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### Original Police Complaint Timeline

| Date | What Happened |
|——|—————|
| **16 Feb 2026** | Complaint filed at local police station (not FIR) |
| **19 Feb 2026** | Constable calls photographer. He blames contractor, requests 40 days citing Eid. Agreed. |
| **During 40 days** | Photographer makes zero contact with contractor. Ignores repeated storage warnings. Takes no steps. |
| **17 Mar 2026** | Out of fear of data loss, we visit station and meet PI. Photographer tries to divert to payment dispute, claims only Rs. 60,000 received, caught contradicting himself. PI asks how much time he needs — photographer commits to delivering all data by 2nd April 2026. |
| **~27 Mar 2026** | Photographer finally sends his hard drive to the contractor — only as 2nd April deadline approached. Contact between them was minimal with no proper communication. |
| **2 Apr 2026** | Photographer absconds. Does not appear at station despite police-witnessed commitment. We wait over 2 hours. PI waits. He never comes. Confirmed separately: he had still not paid the contractor as of this date. |
| **Shortly after 2 Apr** | Handling PI gets transferred. |

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### Evidence Available

– GPay transaction record (Rs. 21,000 — 5th December 2021)
– Photographic proof of cash payment (Rs. 25,000 — ~4th February 2022)
– Audio recordings of contradictory payment statements — multiple occasions
– Direct communications with contractor confirming non-payment, data location, storage card disclosure
– WhatsApp records showing unanswered calls and ignored messages
– Wedding deliverables confirming contract was executed (partial work received)
– All electronic evidence ready with Section 65B certificates

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## UPDATE — 22nd April to 30th April 2026

A lot has happened since the original post. Updating here for anyone following or who can offer further advice.

**22nd April 2026 — New PI, video call with contractor**
After the previous PI’s transfer and a personal delay (health issue in the family), we returned to the station. The new PI called both parties. The photographer now claimed the contractor had blocked him entirely. The PI arranged a video call with the contractor on the spot. The contractor said he was unwell and asked for 2 more days. The PI instructed the photographer to pay the contractor whatever was pending and retrieve the data. No action was taken by the photographer after this meeting.

**Post 22nd April — Contractor’s latest version**
The contractor told us privately that he now has approximately 178 GB of data (down from his earlier claim of 300+ GB). He also said the remaining data was returned to the photographer on a storage card. The photographer has never mentioned this card to us or to any officer. We believe this is a critical point — if accurate, the photographer has been holding data while denying its existence.

**29th April 2026 — Negotiation and final refusal**
We visited the station. The PI contacted the contractor directly. The contractor stated Rs. 67,000 was pending — but clarified this was across two separate cases (ours and another party). Since only our case is registered, the PI negotiated for our case only. Agreement reached: photographer pays Rs. 35,000 → contractor hands over all data in his possession → we receive it.

That evening, the photographer was asked to come to the station and make the payment. He did not come. The constable called him — he did not pick up. Police then reached out through a mutual contact known to the photographer. Through this mutual contact it was conveyed that the photographer had consulted a lawyer who advised him not to come to the station. (This is indirect — conveyed through the mutual contact, not confirmed directly by the photographer.)

**30th April 2026 — FIR**
Police have informed us they are no longer neutral. We have been asked to come to the station to register the FIR.

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### Updated Questions

1. Now that FIR is being registered, what should we ensure is clearly on record before or at the time of registration?
2. The photographer has now engaged a lawyer and is refusing to come to the station — how does this affect the process going forward?
3. The storage card mentioned by the contractor — can we push for seizure of the photographer’s devices as part of the FIR investigation?
4. The contractor has inconsistent data claims (300 GB → 178 GB) and his statement has only been given to us privately, not on record — should we push the investigating officer to formally record his statement early?
5. The photographer’s assistant was directly involved in giving false promises over months — can he be called as a witness?

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*All facts above are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Some parts have been structured with the help of AI tools for clarity. We are open to any corrections, legal insights, or practical advice.*

*This involves irreplaceable wedding memories. Any guidance is genuinely appreciated.*

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