A 56-year-old Indian national has initiated legal action in Canada, accusing a Winnipeg-based family and a real estate broker of exploiting his intellectual disability to orchestrate a series of fraudulent property transactions. The lawsuit claims the schemes in Canada and India have cost him approximately $1 million, leaving him in severe debt and financial ruin.
Allegations of Exploitation and Financial Control
Gagandeep Pejatta filed his statement of claim in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench in October 2024. The defendants named are three members of the Uppal family and licensed real estate broker Avinash Chander. Pejatta, who is diagnosed with an intellectual disability and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), asserts that the defendants used his condition to gain control over his finances.
After moving from Brampton, Ontario, to Winnipeg in 2021 following a divorce, Pejatta's mother entrusted the Uppals, described as long-time family friends, with his care. "I felt like these are gonna be good people," Pejatta recalled. The legal claim states there was a clear understanding that he needed special assistance and could not handle complex financial matters independently.
Despite this, the lawsuit alleges that in 2022, the Uppals and Chander arranged for two mortgages to be taken out in Pejatta's name to purchase Winnipeg properties. Pejatta states he did not comprehend the mortgage agreements or the risks. "I was getting confused there, because it was above my knowledge base," he said. The rental income from these properties failed to cover the mortgage payments, plunging him into debt.
Cross-Border Fraud: The Indian Property Sale
The case extends to India, involving the sale of family property. Before her death in February 2024, Pejatta's mother instructed that the full proceeds from a jointly owned Indian property should go to her son. His sister, Sundeep Pejatta, granted Charanjit Uppal power of attorney to facilitate the sale, stating, "My mom trusted these people. I just assumed they were like family."
The property was sold in December 2024 for $425,000. However, the lawsuit contends that Pejatta received only $200,855. It alleges that two additional properties were fraudulently transferred to Charanjit Uppal and that the remainder of the sale money was withheld by Uppal, Chander, and associates in India.
Further claims include Pejatta being persuaded to withdraw over $500,000 from his bank accounts over several years, with the funds deposited into Uppal family accounts. "I gave him the money because I loved him," Pejatta stated. The lawsuit also mentions unpaid wages for work at an Uppal-owned banquet hall and an attempted, but unsuccessful, condominium purchase.
Defendants' Denial and a Life in Ruins
All defendants have denied any wrongdoing. Broker Avinash Chander has rejected the claim and stated he does not believe Pejatta has an intellectual disability. They have asked the court to pause proceedings until a litigation guardian is appointed for Pejatta.
The legal action accuses Chander of failing to recognize Pejatta's limited mental capacity and breaching his professional duty as a licensed broker. Meanwhile, Pejatta is left with little money and mounting debts, his life in Winnipeg shattered. "I don't know how to belong," he lamented. "Where do I go?" The case highlights grave concerns about the financial exploitation of vulnerable individuals within diaspora communities.
