No more leniency! Actor Rajpal Yadav surrenders at Tihar Jail in Rs. 9-crore cheque bounce case

The High Court directed Yadav to serve a six-month jail term, observing that he had repeatedly violated court directions despite being granted multiple opportunities to settle his dues.

The case dates back to 2010 and involves unpaid liabilities that reportedly ballooned to nearly Rs 9 crore over the years.

According to PTI, the legal dispute began in 2010 when Yadav borrowed around Rs 5 crore from M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to finance his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata. The film failed at the box office, resulting in heavy financial losses and an inability to repay the loan.

As interest and penalties accumulated, the outstanding amount rose substantially. In an attempt to settle the dues, Yadav issued multiple cheques to the lender, which were later dishonoured, leading to criminal proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

Conviction and appeals

In April 2018, a magistrate’s court convicted Rajpal Yadav and his wife in multiple cheque bounce cases and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment. The conviction was upheld by a sessions court in 2019, following which Yadav approached the Delhi High Court.

While loan defaults are typically treated as civil disputes, the High Court took a strict view of Yadav’s conduct, citing repeated breaches of undertakings given to the court.

Over several years, Yadav was granted multiple extensions to repay the amount in instalments. The court noted that although partial payments were made, he consistently failed to honour agreed timelines.

The High Court observed that Yadav was required to pay Rs 1.35 crore in each of the seven cases filed against him and ordered that the amount already deposited with the Registrar General be released to the complainant.

In October 2025, two demand drafts of Rs 75 lakh were deposited, but the court recorded that nearly Rs 9 crore remained unpaid.

In June 2024, the High Court temporarily suspended Yadav’s conviction, subject to his taking “sincere and genuine measures” to reach an amicable settlement. However, the court later found that no meaningful resolution had been achieved.

Court orders surrender

On February 2, 2026, the Delhi High Court directed Yadav to surrender before jail authorities by 4 pm on February 4, criticising his repeated non-compliance. When he failed to do so on time, his counsel sought leniency, stating that Yadav was attempting to arrange funds and had reached Delhi later that evening.

Rejecting the plea, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma expressed strong disapproval, stating that courts cannot create special circumstances for individuals based on their background or profession. The judge noted that continued leniency in the face of repeated violations would send the wrong message.

On February 5, Yadav appeared before the court, with his counsel offering to submit a fresh demand draft of Rs 25 lakh and adhere to a new payment schedule. The court declined to recall the surrender order, emphasising that compassion must be balanced with discipline.

Later that day, Rajpal Yadav surrendered at Tihar Jail and began serving his six-month sentence. Jail authorities confirmed that standard procedures were followed.

Actor’s reaction and industry support

Earlier, speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Yadav had said he was unable to repay the amount, stating, “I don’t have the money to pay back. I can’t see another way out.” He also remarked that support from the film industry had been limited.

Following his surrender, several film industry figures expressed solidarity. Actor Sonu Sood announced that he would offer Yadav a role and a signing amount, calling it an act of dignity rather than charity.

Filmmaker Anees Bazmee said Yadav never intended to default and described the situation as a difficult financial phase. Actor Gurmeet Choudhary also appealed for industry support, calling the actor’s situation “heartbreaking.”

On the professional front, Rajpal Yadav was last seen in Baby John and Interrogation. He is set to appear next in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Bhoot Bangla, scheduled for release on April 10.