NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav has been granted interim relief by the Delhi High Court, which on Monday suspended his sentence in a long-running cheque bounce case, allowing him to be released from jail until the next hearing scheduled for March 18.
A bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma passed the order after noting that Yadav had deposited Rs 1.5 crore with the complainant company, M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd, against outstanding dues related to bounced cheques. The court agreed to suspend his six-month sentence, originally imposed by a trial court and upheld in subsequent proceedings, on a temporary basis to enable Yadav to meet personal commitments and work toward resolution of the financial dispute.
Yadav had sought the interim suspension on account of a family marriage scheduled on February 19, stating that he needed to attend the function. In granting the relief, the High Court also placed a series of conditions on the actor’s release, including a direction that he surrender his passport and refrain from leaving the country without court’s permission. The bench further directed that Yadav must appear before the court, either physically or through video conferencing, on the next hearing date.
The cheque bounce matter stems from financial obligations that reportedly dated back many years. Yadav had borrowed money from Murli Projects Pvt Ltd to finance his film ventures, including the 2012 project Ata Pata Laapata, which failed at the box office, leading to losses and defaults on several post-dated cheques. Eventually, the outstanding dues swelled to around Rs 9 crore, triggering legal action under the Negotiable Instruments Act after multiple cheques were dishonoured.
Over the years, the case saw numerous hearings and adjournments as Yadav’s legal team sought extensions to pay the outstanding amounts. In June 2024, the High Court had temporarily suspended his sentence to give him a chance to settle dues. However, the actor repeatedly failed to meet agreed timelines for repayment, leading to criticism from the bench for his non-compliance and eventual surrender to serve the sentence earlier this month.
Yadav surrendered to Tihar Jail authorities on February 5 after the High Court rejected his plea for further extension on repayment grounds, observing that repeated assurances had not been honoured. The court had emphasised that leniency is discretionary and cannot be extended indefinitely where undertakings are betrayed.
With the interim suspension now in effect, Yadav will remain free until the next hearing in March, offering him a brief reprieve from custody as the legal battle continues. His lawyer must fulfill all conditions set by the court, including furnishing a personal bond and surety, for the suspension to remain valid.
The case has drawn attention not only because of Yadav’s celebrity status but also due to the substantial financial liabilities and prolonged legal dispute that have spanned well over a decade.
