In a big legal setback for Rajpal Yadav, the Delhi High Court has denied him immediate relief in a decade-old cheque-bounce case. The actor, who is currently serving a six-month sentence at Tihar Jail, will remain in custody after the court observed a persistent failure to honour financial commitments.
A single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma presided over the hearing today. Despite a plea from Rajpal Yadav’s counsel seeking a suspension of the sentence, citing an upcoming family wedding as grounds for temporary relief, the court remained firm. Justice Sharma noted that the actor had acknowledged his debt to the complainant company and had previously assured repayment but failed to follow through. The court observed during the proceedings, “The actor has delayed payments owed to the complainant for several years and disobeyed the agreed settlement.”
The legal battle goes back to 2010, when Rajpal Yadav borrowed ₹5 crore from the Delhi-based firm Murali Projects Pvt Ltd. The funds were intended to finance his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata (2012). However, the film’s failure at the box office led to severe financial losses, and the borrowed amount eventually increased to nearly ₹9 crore due to interest and legal complications.
In 2018, a magisterial court convicted Rajpal Yadav for cheque dishonour under the Negotiable Instruments Act, a decision that was upheld by a sessions court in 2019. Earlier this month, before surrendering to begin his sentence, an emotional Rajpal expressed his helplessness to the court, saying, “Sir, kya karoon? Mere paas paise nahin hain. Aur koi upaay nahin dikhta… Sir, yahan hum sab akele hain. There are no friends. I have to deal with this crisis on my own.”
While the law has taken its decision, the film industry has rallied behind the actor. Personalities like Sonu Sood, Mika Singh and Guru Randhawa have offered financial aid. Sonu Sood took to social media to support his colleague, writing, “Rajpal Yadav is a gifted actor who has given years of unforgettable work to our industry… When one of our own is going through a tough phase, the industry must remind him he’s not alone.” Other stars, including Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Varun Dhawan, have reportedly reached out privately.
According to his legal team, approximately ₹2 crore remains unpaid and is expected to be cleared soon. The Delhi High Court is scheduled to resume the hearing next Monday to decide on potential interim relief. Until then, Rajpal Yadav remains at Tihar Jail.
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