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Agartala, Tripura
Delhi/IBNS: Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav, who had been lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a ₹9-crore cheque bounce case, was granted interim bail by the Delhi High Court on Monday, offering him temporary relief in a prolonged legal battle.
The case dates back to 2012, when the 54-year-old actor borrowed ₹5 crore from M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to bankroll his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata.
The film’s commercial failure resulted in heavy losses, complicating his ability to repay the loan.
As repayments stalled, the situation worsened. Dishonoured cheques, mounting interest and penalties steadily inflated the liability, eventually pushing the outstanding amount close to ₹9 crore.
In an attempt to clear the dues, Yadav issued multiple cheques to the lender.
However, their repeated dishonour triggered criminal action under the Negotiable Instruments Act, escalating the dispute from a financial default to a criminal case.
The actor repeatedly approached the court seeking additional time, but persistent breaches of undertakings tested judicial patience.
Despite partial repayments, including two demand drafts totalling ₹75 lakh in October 2025 and a later proposal to deposit ₹25 lakh under a revised plan, the court refused to grant further relief.
Earlier this month, the high court directed Yadav to surrender, citing his failure to honour court commitments.
On February 5, he reported to Tihar Jail and began serving a six-month sentence awarded in the cheque bounce cases.
An interim bail application, filed on personal grounds including a family wedding, was adjourned, with the court noting inconsistent assurances on payment and observing that the actor’s incarceration stemmed from unmet promises.
Relief finally came on Monday when Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma granted an interim suspension of sentence after recording that Yadav had deposited ₹1.5 crore into the complainant’s bank account.
Clarifying the limited nature of the relief, the court stated that the suspension would remain valid only until the next date of hearing.
Yadav was directed to surrender his passport and barred from leaving the country without prior permission.
The actor has been instructed to remain present, either physically or virtually, on March 18, when the matter will be heard again.
The proceedings arise from revision petitions filed by Yadav and his wife challenging a 2019 sessions court ruling that upheld their conviction by a magisterial court in April 2018.
That magisterial court verdict had sentenced the actor to six months’ imprisonment.
In June 2024, the high court had temporarily stayed his conviction, subject to sincere efforts toward an amicable settlement—efforts that ultimately fell short.
During the legal and personal turmoil, members of the film industry extended financial support.
Actors including Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, David Dhawan, Sonu Sood, Guru Randhawa and Mika Singh stepped in, a gesture acknowledged publicly by Yadav’s wife, Radha Yadav.
On the work front, Rajpal Yadav was last seen in Baby John and Interrogation.
He is scheduled to appear next in Akshay Kumar’s horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla, slated for release on April 10, even as his legal challenges remain unresolved.
