Rajpal Yadav loses High Court plea in cheque bounce case

Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav has suffered a significant legal setback after the Delhi High Court upheld his conviction in seven cheque bounce cases on Friday, July 10, dismissing his appeal and rejecting his request for probation.
The verdict was delivered by a bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who found no error in the original session court judgment that had sentenced Yadav in May 2024. The court ordered that Yadav undergo simple imprisonment of three months in each of the seven complaint cases and pay a fine of Rs 1.05 crore in each case. The sentence has, however, been stayed for two months, giving the actor a window to explore further legal options.
The court’s denial of probation was particularly pointed. It noted that Yadav had repeatedly failed to honour commitments he made to repay the complainant despite being given multiple opportunities to do so. During the proceedings, Yadav is reported to have stated in open court that he would rather go to jail five more times than repay the complainant, a remark that the bench cited directly when explaining why it was not inclined to grant him the relief of probation. His legal team had made multiple requests for more time, arguing that arrangements were being made to clear the dues, but the court found those assurances insufficient given the actor’s track record of not following through.
The case has its origins in a financial dispute dating back to 2010. A private company alleged that Yadav borrowed Rs 5 crore to produce his film Ata Pata Laapata and had agreed to repay Rs 8 crore but failed to fulfil the commitment. The company filed the cheque bounce cases after the agreed repayments were not made, and the matter has since been working its way through the courts for more than a decade.
Yadav had approached the Delhi High Court specifically to challenge the trial court’s May 2024 order. By upholding that conviction and rejecting the probation request, the High Court has effectively confirmed the seriousness of the legal position Yadav now finds himself in.
The actor is widely known for his comedic roles in popular Hindi films including Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Chup Chup Ke and Khatta Meetha, and has built a long career in Bollywood as a character actor. The legal case against him has been a persistent shadow over his professional life, and Friday’s verdict makes his situation considerably more difficult. With the two-month stay in place, his legal team is expected to explore whether further avenues of appeal remain available.