The Delhi High Court on Friday sentenced Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav to three months’ simple imprisonment in a batch of cheque dishonour cases after upholding his conviction, holding that he had repeatedly failed to honour settlement terms, payment commitments and undertakings furnished before the Court despite being granted several opportunities to resolve the dispute.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma delivered the verdict on a batch of seven connected criminal revision petitions and criminal miscellaneous petitions arising out of proceedings initiated by M/s Murli Projects Private Limited under the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. While affirming the conviction recorded by the sessions court, the High Court directed that the sentence of three months’ simple imprisonment imposed in each of the seven cases would run concurrently.
The Court further directed Yadav to pay compensation and fine amounting to Rs 1.05 crore in each case to the complainant. His wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, was also directed to pay over Rs 5 lakh in each case. The High Court clarified that an amount of Rs 2.25 crore already paid and released to the complainant during the pendency of the proceedings would be given due adjustment while calculating the balance amount payable.
Justice Sharma observed that although a predecessor Bench had expressed disinclination to entertain the matter on merits, judicial indulgence was extended after Yadav assured the Court that he was willing to amicably settle the dispute. The matter was accordingly referred to the Delhi High Court Mediation Centre, and the sentence awarded by the sessions court was suspended to facilitate settlement negotiations.
However, despite repeated adjournments and multiple assurances given through counsel, Yadav failed to comply with the settlement terms. The Court noted that he did not deposit several amounts he had undertaken to pay, including Rs 2.5 crore, for which he had sought permission to pay in instalments.
It further recorded that despite repeated opportunities to honour the settlement, the undertakings given to the Court remained unfulfilled and, towards the end of the proceedings, Yadav declined to make any further payment, stating that he was willing to undergo imprisonment instead.
Tracing the procedural history, the Court noted that the sessions court had convicted Yadav in May 2024 and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment in the cheque dishonour cases. The High Court subsequently suspended the sentence in view of the proposed settlement. However, after finding persistent non-compliance with its directions, the Court, in February 2026, directed Yadav to surrender before the Jail Superintendent. His application seeking extension of time to surrender was also rejected.
Yadav ultimately surrendered on February 5 and remained in custody until the High Court granted interim suspension of sentence after he deposited Rs 1.5 crore with the complainant. The Court also recorded that, in total, approximately Rs 4.25 crore had been paid during the pendency of the litigation. Nevertheless, it held that the remaining settlement obligations were never fulfilled despite repeated undertakings and judicial indulgence.
Holding that there was no infirmity in the findings of the trial court or the determination of compensation after taking into account the amounts already paid, the High Court upheld the conviction and modified the sentence to three months’ simple imprisonment in each of the seven cases, with all sentences directed to run concurrently. The Court also granted Yadav two months’ time to enable him to avail of his statutory remedies by challenging the judgment before the Supreme Court.
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