Paid money to a civil contractor online payment
06-Jul-2026 (In Criminal Law)
I have paid money to a civil contractor for construction of house and he is not completing the work. The money paid is online via upi maximum in his amount and aome in his known persons.
The maximum money is paid and he is deliberate delaying and making excuses.
Their was no registered agreement.
In such a case, the absence of a registered agreement does not make the claim weak, because payment through UPI, bank transfers, WhatsApp chats, call recordings, photographs of work, estimates, bills, material receipts and witnesses can prove the oral contract. The client should first prepare a complete statement of payments, dates, transaction IDs, receiver names and the work promised. Thereafter, send a detailed legal notice to the contractor demanding completion of construction within a fixed time or refund of excess amount with compensation. If he still avoids the work, a consumer complaint can be filed for “deficiency in service” and compensation, since construction service taken for consideration is covered under consumer remedies. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 recognises complaints for harm caused by defective products or deficiency in services. Simultaneously, a civil suit for recovery of money, damages and injunction may also be filed, depending on the amount and urgency. If from the beginning he dishonestly induced payment, diverted money to his own or known persons’ accounts, or never intended to complete the work, a criminal complaint/FIR may also be moved for cheating and criminal breach of trust under Sections 318 and 316 BNS. The BNS classifies Section 318(4) cheating with dishonest inducement to deliver property as cognizable and non-bailable, punishable up to seven years with fine. However, police may treat pure construction delay as civil dispute unless dishonest intention is clearly shown. Therefore, the complaint should specifically mention false promises, repeated excuses, diversion of funds, unfinished work, loss caused, and refusal to refund. The best course is: legal notice first, then consumer/civil recovery, and criminal action if fraud is evident.
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