Argus News - Rajpal Yadav Faces Jail Time! Why the Actor Must Surrender Now

New Delhi, Feb 3: Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav has been directed by the Delhi High Court to surrender in connection with the multiple cheque bounce case.

Rajpal has been given a deadline - by 4 pm on February 4 - to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent.

Deprecating the renowned actor’s conduct, the single-judge Bench of Swarana Kanta Sharma noted, despite being granted several opportunities, Rajpal failed to honour settlement commitments.

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“This Court is of the view that the conduct of the petitioner No. 1 (Rajpal Yadav) deserves to be deprecated. Despite repeatedly giving assurances and seeking indulgence of this Court, he has failed to comply with the orders passed from time to time,” observed Justice Sharma.

The Delhi HC was dealing with multiple petitions filed by the actor and his wife challenging their conviction and sentence under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

Justice Sharma took a stern view of the conduct of the couple, and observed that the settlement amount was not paid with respect to the undertakings provided to the court despite “considerable leniency” shown over prolonged period.

The Delhi HC said: “This Court finds no justification to continue the indulgence granted to the petitioner No.1 earlier.” The HC added that Rajpal Yadav had “repeatedly breached undertakings given before this Court”.

Justice Sharma, in the court order, noted that the sentence awarded by the trial court had been suspended as early as June 28, 2024, after the petitioners expressed willingness to amicably settle the dispute with the complainant company, and the matter was even referred to mediation.

Despite assurances and specific timelines fixed by the Delhi HC from time to time, no payment was made for nearly a year, the order recorded further.

Justice Sharma granted limited indulgence by allowing time till February 4 - Wednesday - for surrender while directing the release of the amount already deposited with the Registrar General to the complainant company. The court accepted the submission that the actor was presently engaged in professional work in Mumbai.

“However, in the interest of justice, the petitioner no.1 is directed to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent by 04.02.2026 at 4:00 PM, to serve the sentence awarded to him by the learned Trial Court,” said the Delhi HC.

Seeking compliance from the concerned jail authorities, the matter was listed on February 5.