Lease Advance Fraud/ Lease property seized by bank
I was looking for a Lease property recently and found one of the property owners who was leasing an Individual house. It was agreed for a lease of 15,50,000/- for tenure of 2 years. I paid advance of 9,50,000/- in partials through online bank payments and a Notary agreement was prepared with all these details and balance payment was documented to pay on key handover date.
Few days before the key handover, i found that the lease property was seized by bank. When we questioned about this and asked to return the money, the owner said that he cannot return anything until the agreement date. And further didn't return the money and kept waiting us daily.
On the agreement beginning date, we lodged a police complaint on the house owner seeking help from the police officials to return the advanced amount. The complaint was accepted by the police and they asked us to come back after three days, post 3 days the police officials says that this case is a Civil case and they cannot look into it. They asked is to file a case if needed.
Just wanted to check if this comes under civil case or criminal case
And what action should be taken to recover the advance money