Actor Rajpal Yadav is in the news after he was embroiled in a major legal controversy after being sent to Tihar Jail in connection with a Rs 9 crore check bounce case. The actor is out on bail but the matter is still in court.
According to the latest update, the Delhi High Court on April 2 reserved its ruling after several attempts to reach a settlement failed, despite continued judicial intervention. During the hearing, the actor also made an emotional plea before the court.The matter was heard by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma according to ANI, who expressed dissatisfaction with the actor’s inconsistent stand on payment of dues. “I’m not getting my answers,” the judge said.
The pledge said something else, and now you say something else.”
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Advocate Avneet Singh Sikka, representing the complainant, said the actor has already accepted his conviction and can now avoid responsibility. He pointed out that the review petition filed in 2024 came with an unjustified delay of 1,894 days and lacked sufficient justification for dismissal. He also said that completing the sentence does not eliminate financial responsibility.
Despite repeated assurances, the dues remained unpaid, leaving the complainant with no option but to proceed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, Sika added.Throughout the proceedings, the court made several efforts to mediate a settlement between the parties. At some point, the complainant agreed to accept Rs 6 crore as full and final settlement.However, in an emotional reaction, Rajpal rejected the offer, stating that he was already facing major financial difficulties.
During his virtual appearance, he told the court that he had sold five flats and paid a huge amount already. “I’m not emotional,” he said. “They sent me to prison five more times.”In a bid to resolve the impasse, the court also proposed a structured payment plan of Rs 3 lakh crore within a fixed timeline, clarifying that it was just a judicial suggestion and not a binding agreement. Even this effort failed to reach consensus. The court also criticized the conduct of the proceedings, warning: “Never think that the judge is weak if the judge is kind to you,” noting that valuable judicial time is being wasted.Although no agreement was reached and disagreements continued, the court ultimately reserved its ruling.The origins of the case go back to 2010, when Rajpal Yadav borrowed Rs 5 crore from Delhi-based Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to finance his directorial venture Ata Pata Laapata (2012). The film’s poor performance at the box office led to huge losses, which eventually led to a financial dispute. In 2018, a district court convicted the actor under the Negotiable Instruments Act for dishonoring cheques, and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment – a sentence that was later upheld by the Sessions Court in 2019.
Over time, the amount owed escalated to nearly Rs 9 crore.Rajpal was later granted interim bail and was released from jail on February 16. The Delhi High Court extended the interim bail till March 18, with conditions set by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, including a bail bond of Rs 1,000 and one surety. Earlier, the court had directed him to deposit Rs 1.5 crore by 3 pm to secure interim relief. After the complainant’s counsel, representing M/S Murli Project, confirmed that the amount had been credited to the company’s bank account against the bounced cheque, bail was granted.
