Our Bureau
New Delhi
Veteran Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav has been sent to Tihar Jail after the Delhi High Court rejected his final plea for more time to repay nearly ₹9 crore in long‑pending dues linked to a film‑finance dispute. The court has ordered him to serve a six‑month prison term in a series of cheque‑bounce cases that stem from a ₹5‑crore loan he took in 2010 for his directorial debut Ata Pata Laapata.
The case began when Yadav borrowed funds from M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd for the film, which failed at the box office and left the loan unpaid. Over time, interest, penalties, and delayed repayments pushed the outstanding liability to around ₹9 crore. To settle the dues, Yadav issued cheques that later bounced, triggering criminal proceedings under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. A production company filed a formal complaint in 2018, converting what was initially a civil debt into a criminal matter.
Over the years, the High Court repeatedly granted Yadav extensions and instalment plans, but it has now criticised him for flouting nearly 20 separate undertakings. On February 4, the bench refused a last‑minute request for a one‑week extension, calling his conduct “deplorable” and stressing that celebrity status cannot shield anyone from judicial orders. Yadav surrendered at Tihar on February 5 and is serving a six‑month sentence; legal experts note that jail time does not cancel the debt, and he remains liable to clear the remaining amount.
The case has drawn attention to how prolonged financial defaults and repeated contempt of court can land even well‑known public figures behind bars, underscoring the judiciary’s firm stance on compliance with legal commitments.
