Can I legally confiscate a client's property for non-payment if I have a recorded verbal agreement?
I’m in the construction business, and a client has not paid me for over 7 months despite multiple follow ups. He's been giving me date after date but hasn’t followed through.
During one of our phone conversations, I brought up the possibility of confiscating his movable property/materials (currently at the worksite) to recover the unpaid amount. He responded with "theek hai" (okay), which I took as an agreement. I also have a recording of this conversation.
I haven’t acted on this yet, but I’m concerned about potential legal repercussions. If I go ahead and confiscate his materials,
Can he legally file a suit against me for property damage or theft?
Does his response of "theek hai" in the recorded conversation offer me any legal protection?