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Delhi High Court on Wednesday gave a big blow to Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav in the check bounce case. Rejecting his demand for more time to surrender, the court gave a clear order that he would have to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent at 4 pm on the same day. The bench of Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma clearly said that there is no basis for granting further extension.

Rajpal Yadav got a shock from the court

The court said in its order that Rajpal Yadav has already been given additional time, yet he did not follow the promises given to the court. The bench said the surrender order was passed because the actor could not live up to the assurances given before the court. The judge remarked, “You yourself had said that you were in Mumbai, on that basis you were given two days’ time. There is no reason to show any leniency now. You will have to surrender today at 4 pm.”

Rajpal Yadav had filed a petition in the High Court

In a last attempt to get relief on Wednesday, Rajpal Yadav had filed a petition in the High Court and asked for an additional time of one week. Through his lawyer, he argued that he is raising funds for the payment and has so far made arrangements of Rs 50 lakh. However, the court did not accept this argument and rejected the petition.

Earlier in May 2024, a lower court had convicted Rajpal Yadav and his wife in the check bounce case and sentenced them to six months of simple imprisonment each. Even in the hearing held on Monday, February 2, the High Court had strongly commented on the conduct of the actor and termed his behavior as condemnable. The court had said that despite being given repeated opportunities and sufficient leniency, Rajpal Yadav had failed to make the payment to the complainant company M/s Murali Projects Pvt. Ltd.

What did the court say?

The court also noted that from June 2024 till now, the actor kept asking for time for payment, but kept going back on his promise every time. He had assured the court to pay a total of Rs 2.5 crore, which included separate installments of Rs 40 lakh and Rs 2.10 crore, but the amount was not deposited within the stipulated time. The bench said that when the petitioner himself has accepted his liability, it is not appropriate to give repeated concessions.

It is noteworthy that earlier on June 28, 2024, another bench of the High Court had stayed the sentence saying that Rajpal Yadav and his wife are not habitual criminals and they want to explore the possibility of a settlement with the complainant company. After this the matter was sent for mediation, but there too no solution could be found.

The case was filed by private firm M/s Murali Projects Pvt. Ltd. It is alleged that Rajpal Yadav had taken a loan of Rs 5 crore in 2010 for the production of his film ‘Ata Pata Lapata’ and had promised to return Rs 8 crore in return. The company had taken legal action against him after payment was not made on time.