The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav’s last-ditch attempt to postpone his surrender in the long-running check bounce case, following which the actor said he would report to jail authorities later in the day to begin his sentence.
Rajpal Yadav to surrender in Tihar Jail after Delhi High Court rejects extension in check bounce case
Yadav, who was present in the court, had sought additional time to pay the dues of the complainant, Murali Projects Pvt Ltd, but a bench led by Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma refused to grant any more time. The court said it would hear him only after he surrenders before jail authorities, noting that Yadav was earlier directed to surrender on Wednesday but he failed to do so.
Senior advocate Abhijat, appearing for Yadav, informed the court that Rs 25 lakh will be paid on the same day and a temporary repayment schedule has been agreed upon between the parties. However, the bench refused to entertain the plea, insisting that previous leniency had already been extended and Yadav had not fulfilled the assurances given to the court.
The actor’s sentence is linked to his conviction in a check bounce case in May 2024, in which a sessions court had sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment; The High Court later suspended the sentence on the assurance that Yadav would compromise with the complainant. That arrangement ultimately failed, with Yadav missing several deadlines to pay the agreed dues.
On February 2, the high court had directed Yadav to surrender within two days after rejecting his explanations for the delayed payment, including the claim that the earlier demand draft contained a typographical error. The court said that Yadav has not made significant progress towards correcting the error or settling the case.
After the rejection of his latest plea, Yadav’s lawyer confirmed that the actor will surrender in Tihar Jail today i.e. Thursday, after which he can seek further relief or file applications in connection with his case.
The High Court’s judgment reflects the judiciary’s limited tolerance for repeated non-compliance of court orders in financial disputes under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
