Cheque Bounce – Delhi High Court Upholds Rajpal Yadav’s Conviction in Seven Cases
Cheque Bounce – The Delhi High Court has upheld actor Rajpal Yadav’s conviction in multiple cheque-bounce cases, confirming a three-month jail term and directing him to make substantial payments to the complainant in connection with seven separate complaints.
The order was passed on Friday by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The court said Yadav would be required to pay more than Rs 1 crore in each of the seven matters. It also noted that approximately Rs 2 crore already deposited by the actor would be adjusted against the total amount payable.
Legal Relief for Appeal
While maintaining the conviction, the High Court gave Yadav two months to seek relief before the appellate court. The detailed judgment has not yet been made available.
The case reached the High Court through revision petitions filed by Yadav and his wife. They had challenged a 2019 sessions court order that had affirmed their conviction in the cheque dishonour matters.
Earlier Court Decisions
The magistrate court had first convicted the actor and imposed a six-month prison sentence in April 2018. The sessions court later upheld that decision in 2019, leading Yadav and his wife to approach the High Court.
The disputes relate to financial transactions connected to a film production venture. During earlier proceedings, Yadav’s legal counsel had told the court that the money had been raised for producing a film that failed commercially, resulting in financial difficulties for the actor.
Temporary Suspension in 2024
In June 2024, the High Court had temporarily suspended Yadav’s conviction. That relief was granted on the condition that he take sincere and genuine steps to explore an amicable settlement with the other side.
The court had indicated that the suspension was linked to the possibility of resolving the payment dispute through negotiations. However, the matter continued as the parties were unable to reach a final settlement.
Court Notes Repeated Breach of Undertakings
In February, the High Court took a stricter view of the matter after observing that Yadav had repeatedly failed to fulfil commitments made before the court regarding repayment.
On February 2, the court directed him to surrender on February 4, citing repeated breaches of undertakings connected with the outstanding amount. The direction reflected the court’s concern over the delay in complying with payment-related assurances.
Later, on February 16, the court temporarily suspended Yadav’s sentence and allowed his release from jail after he deposited Rs 1.5 crore in the bank account of one of the complainants.
Payment Direction in Seven Complaints
The latest order brings renewed focus to the financial liability arising from the seven cheque-bounce complaints. With the conviction upheld, Yadav will now have to pursue the legal remedy available before the appellate court if he wishes to challenge the ruling further.
The High Court’s decision also makes clear that the amount already paid by the actor will be taken into account while calculating the final sum due to the complainant. Further proceedings are expected after the detailed order is released and Yadav decides on his next legal step.