A 56-year-old Indian national diagnosed with an intellectual disability has taken legal action against a family in Winnipeg, Canada, and a real estate broker. He alleges they manipulated his condition to involve him in disastrous property transactions, resulting in losses approaching $1 million.
Allegations of Financial Exploitation and Control
Gagandeep Pejatta filed his statement of claim in the Manitoba Court in October. The defendants named are three members of the Uppal family and licensed real estate broker Avinash Chander. Pejatta contends that the group exploited his diagnosed intellectual disability and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to gain control over his finances.
After a divorce, Pejatta moved from Brampton, Ontario, to Winnipeg in 2021 on his mother's advice. She trusted the Uppals, described as long-time family friends, to support him. "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.
Questionable Mortgages and Mounting Debt
Despite this, the lawsuit alleges that in 2022, the Uppals and Chander arranged for mortgages to be taken out in Pejatta's name to purchase two Winnipeg properties. Pejatta asserts he did not comprehend the agreements or the risks. "I was getting confused there, because it was above my knowledge base," he said.
Although the properties were rented, the income failed to cover the mortgage payments, plunging Pejatta into deepening debt. The legal action accuses broker Avinash Chander of failing to recognize Pejatta's limited mental capacity, thereby breaching his professional duty. Chander has denied the claims and stated he does not believe Pejatta has an intellectual disability.
Disputed Sale of Indian Property and Missing Funds
The case also involves property in India. Before her death in February 2024, Pejatta's mother instructed that proceeds from selling a jointly-owned Indian property should go entirely to her son. His sister, Sundeep Pejatta, granted Charanjit Uppal power of attorney to manage the sale. "My mom trusted these people," she said. "I just assumed they were like family."
The property was sold in December 2024 for $425,000. However, the lawsuit alleges that two additional properties were fraudulently transferred to Charanjit Uppal. It claims Pejatta received only $200,855, with the remainder kept by Uppal, Chander, and associates in India. Both defendants deny any wrongdoing.
Further Claims of Financial Drain and Unpaid Wages
Pejatta further alleges he was persuaded over several years to withdraw more than $500,000 from his bank accounts, depositing the money into Uppal family accounts. "I gave him the money because I loved him," Pejatta stated emotionally.
Additional claims in the lawsuit include unpaid wages for work at a banquet hall owned by the Uppals and an attempted, but unconsummated, involvement in a condominium purchase. The defendants have denied exploiting Pejatta and have requested the court pause proceedings until a litigation guardian is appointed for him.
A Life Unraveled and a Search for Justice
Today, Gagandeep Pejatta says he is left with little money and overwhelming debt, his life in Winnipeg in ruins. "I don't know how to belong," he lamented. "Where do I go?" His legal battle seeks accountability and restitution for what he describes as a systematic exploitation of his vulnerability, a stark reminder of the protections needed for individuals with disabilities in major financial transactions.
