Rajpal Yadav sentenced to three months in jail in cheque bounce case; Delhi HC cites repeated defaults

The Delhi High Court on Friday sentenced actor Rajpal Yadav to three months of simple imprisonment in a cheque bounce case because he repeatedly failed to keep his promises made to the court.Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma delivered the verdict in a group of seven cases filed by M/s Murli Projects Private Limited.While Yadav was given three months' jail time in each case, the court said all the sentences would be served at the same time.

Along with the jail term, the High Court ordered the actor to pay Rs 1.05 crore in each of the seven cases.

His wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, was also asked to pay more than Rs 5 lakh in each case.

During the case, the court said that Yadav had been given many chances to resolve the dispute and clear the unpaid money but he didn't follow through on the promises he made.

Justice Sharma explained, "Opportunities were provided to follow the settlement.He and his lawyer made several statements and promises, yet he still didn't honor the commitments."

The judge also gave Yadav two months to challenge the decision in a higher court.

The legal issue has been going on for over two years.

In May 2024, a sessions court had found Yadav guilty in a cheque bounce case and sentenced him to six months in jail.

The Delhi High Court later paused that sentence after Yadav's legal team promised that the issue would be settled peacefully.

The case was then referred to the Delhi High Court Mediation Centre to try to find a solution.

However, despite several delays and repeated promises, the settlement didn't happen.

The High Court noted that Yadav didn't pay several amounts he had agreed to, including Rs 2.5 crore, for which he had asked for permission to make payments in installments.

In February 2026, the High Court told Yadav to surrender to jail authorities because he hadn't followed the court's earlier orders.

His request for more time to surrender was also denied.

Yadav finally surrendered on February 5 and was kept in custody until he deposited Rs 1.5 crore with the complainant and was given temporary relief from the sentence.