The UK government has responded to a request from 63-year-old Vivek Ruthia from Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, who claims that the British government had borrowed ₹35,000 from his grandfather in 1917.
According to a Times of India (TOI) report, Ruthia's legal team received an email believed to be from the UK's Debt Management Office (DMO), seeking copies of the original loan certificate and other documents supporting their claim.
"I am extremely happy. I never imagined there would be a response at this stage. I hope this reaches a logical conclusion. After all, it is no longer just about money—it is a matter of ego now," Ruthia was quoted as saying by TOI.
He said the family would extend full cooperation and hoped British authorities would be able to verify whether records related to the loan still exist.
At the heart of the claim is a certificate dated June 4, 1917, which has been preserved by the Ruthia family for more than a century.
War loans were government-issued debt instruments through which the British administration raised funds from traders and wealthy citizens to finance military expenditure during World War I.
Investors were promised fixed returns, with the 1917 Indian War Loan offering an interest rate of 5.5%. Ruthia claims the loan was never repaid.
He had earlier told TOI that if the 5.5% interest rate were calculated for 109 years (1917–2026), the amount would already run into crores. If indexed to gold, the value would increase further, as gold prices have risen more than 3,000 times since 1917.
The family continues to own properties in Sehore, Indore and Bhopal and has business interests in agriculture, hospitality and real estate. However, like many old landed families, the Ruthias are also involved in property disputes, including cases concerning legacy rents that were fixed at nominal amounts decades ago.
Vivek Ruthia, Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia's grandson, said he found the documents in his grandfather's will, which detailed correspondence with the then British government and, according to him, clearly showed that the British had borrowed the money.
Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia died in 1937, 20 years after the loan was made to the British government. The British subsequently left India in 1947, a decade after his death.
Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity.
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With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture.
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She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes.
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Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.
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