Supreme Court Gives Rajpal Yadav More Time To Pay ₹2 Crore In Cheque-Bounce Case
The Supreme Court has given actor Rajpal Yadav another opportunity to comply with its direction to deposit ₹2 crore in a long-running cheque-bounce dispute, while making it clear that his appeal against the conviction will be considered only after the payment condition is met.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, heard the matter on October 7 after Yadav personally appeared before the court.
The case concerns a financial dispute arising from money that Yadav had received in connection with his 2012 film, “Ata Pata Laapata.” The complainant, M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd, alleged that about ₹5 crore had been provided for the film and that cheques subsequently issued towards repayment were dishonoured.
Seven cheque-bounce cases were eventually pursued against Yadav. The litigation has continued for several years and has resulted in criminal convictions at different stages of the proceedings.
The Delhi High Court in July 2026 upheld Yadav’s conviction and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment in the cheque-bounce cases. The High Court also directed payments towards the complainant.
Yadav subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s order. The Supreme Court had earlier granted him protection from surrender subject to the condition that he deposit ₹5 crore with the court registry.
The court later gave him a further opportunity to make an immediate payment of ₹2 crore as a demonstration of his willingness to settle the dues.
However, when the matter came up on October 5, the court found that the required payment had not been made within the stipulated period.
The Bench strongly criticised Yadav’s failure to comply with its directions and warned that continued non-compliance could have serious consequences, including the possibility of dismissal of his appeal.
At the October 7 hearing, Yadav produced demand drafts amounting to ₹1.15 crore. The remaining ₹85 lakh was proposed to be paid through the sale of his ancestral property.
A prospective buyer of the property was also present during the proceedings, according to reports.
The Supreme Court accepted the proposed arrangement and granted time for the balance amount to be deposited. The court directed that the remaining ₹85 lakh be paid by October 13.
The Bench made it clear that the payment was a condition for consideration of Yadav’s challenge to his conviction and sentence.
During the hearing, Yadav personally addressed the court and spoke about the financial losses he claimed to have suffered because of his film investments.
He said that the film “Ata Pata Laapata” had resulted in substantial financial losses and that he had not recovered the money invested in the project.
The actor also told the court that he had suffered significant losses over the years because of the prolonged dispute.
The proceedings took a lighter turn when the court referred to the title of Yadav’s film while discussing the unpaid amount. The Chief Justice observed that just as the film was “Ata Pata Laapata”, the money had also become “Ata Pata Laapata”.
The court also suggested that Yadav should focus on making a good film and use his professional work to generate money to clear his liabilities.
The comments came alongside the court’s insistence that its directions must be followed. The Bench made clear that sympathy for Yadav’s financial difficulties could not replace compliance with judicial orders.
The dispute dates back to financial assistance allegedly provided in 2010 for Yadav’s directorial project. According to the complainant, repayment arrangements were subsequently made and cheques were issued, but the cheques were dishonoured.
The criminal proceedings ultimately resulted in convictions. Yadav’s wife and other parties connected with the transaction have also faced proceedings arising from the dispute.
The Supreme Court is now primarily concerned with Yadav’s challenge to the High Court judgment and the conditions under which his appeal can proceed.
The court has not finally decided the merits of Yadav’s appeal against his conviction. The latest order instead deals with his compliance with the payment condition and the complainant’s efforts to recover the outstanding amount.
Yadav’s proposal to sell ancestral property has given him additional time to meet the court’s requirement. The next stage will depend on whether the remaining ₹85 lakh is deposited within the deadline.
The case has attracted considerable attention because of the actor’s public appearance before the Supreme Court and the court’s unusually direct remarks during the proceedings.
For now, Yadav remains required to comply with the payment schedule. The Supreme Court will thereafter consider the next steps in his challenge to the conviction and three-month sentence.
