The Delhi High Court on Wednesday provided significant relief to Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav, extending the suspension of his six-month jail sentence until April 1. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that the actor would not be sent to prison at this stage, noting that he has made a “substantial” payment toward settling his dues in long-standing cheque bounce cases.
The court is currently hearing Yadav’s appeal against a 2019 trial court decision that upheld his conviction. During the proceedings, Justice Sharma emphasized that the actor has demonstrated a willingness to comply with financial obligations. “I am not sending him to jail right now. He has made a substantial payment. I will decide the matter,” the judge remarked, while also informing Yadav—who was present in person—that he retains the option to either return the remaining money or continue contesting the legal merits of the case.
A Decade of Financial Turmoil
The legal battle dates back to a 2010 transaction where Yadav and his wife borrowed funds from M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to finance the production of a movie. According to the actor’s counsel, the film subsequently “bombed” at the box office, leading to massive financial losses and the eventual dishonor of cheques issued for repayment.
In April 2018, a magisterial court convicted the actor under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, sentencing him to six months’ imprisonment. While that conviction was upheld by a sessions court in 2019, various rounds of litigation and settlement attempts have followed.
Significant Deposits and Court Observations
The court noted on Wednesday that Yadav has already deposited a total of ₹4.25 crore. During the hearing, the actor’s legal team further presented a demand draft (DD) worth ₹25 lakh.
Responding to the complainant’s request to vacate the suspension of the sentence, Justice Sharma defended the current stay on imprisonment. “He is not running away… He has given you [some] money,” the court noted. “He is coming to the court, he has been in jail. What else do you want in [Section] 138?”
The court’s stance follows a period of strict scrutiny. Earlier in February, the court had deprecated Yadav’s conduct for breaching previous undertakings to repay the complainant. At that time, it was noted that ₹9 crore remained payable, and the actor was required to pay ₹1.35 crore in each of the seven cases filed against him. However, the tide turned on February 16, when the court first suspended the sentence after Yadav deposited ₹1.5 crore directly into the complainant’s bank account.
The High Court has now listed the matter for a final hearing on April 1. Until then, the actor remains out of custody, provided he continues to engage with the court’s requirements for an amicable settlement or a legal resolution of the revision petitions.
