The: Delhi High Court is set to pronounce its verdict on Friday on a batch of petitions filed by Bollywood actors Rajpal Yadav and others challenging their convictions and sentences in several check bounce cases.According to the causelist published on the website of the Delhi High Court, a judge Bench of Justice Srana Kanta Sharma will pronounce the judgment on July 10 on a set of criminal miscellaneous petitions and criminal revision petitions arising from proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
The judge reserved judgment
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma reserved judgment in the case on April 2, after the last round of settlement efforts failed despite the High Court’s continued intervention. During the hearing, the actor made an emotional appeal while opposing the settlement proposal.The HC expressed displeasure over the change in stand made by Yadav regarding the payment of outstanding dues. In one episode, it was observed, “I can’t get my answers. The task says something else and now you say something else,” showing the concern of the inconsistencies in the submissions made for the actor.Appearing for the plaintiff company, advocate Avneet Singh Sikka argued that Yadav had accepted his conviction and could no longer avoid liability. He submitted that the revision petition filed in 2024 was accompanied by an unexplained delay of 1,894 days and did not disclose sufficient grounds for condonation. Sikka further contended that the completion of the sentence did not extinguish the financial liability arising from the dishonored cheques.
Rajpal Yadav rejected the Rs 6 crore settlement
During the hearing, the HC made repeated efforts to facilitate an amicable settlement. On the Court’s suggestion, the complainant agreed to accept Rs 6 crore as a full and final settlement.However, Yadav, who appeared almost on the last date of hearing, rejected the proposal and told the Court that he had already suffered heavy financial loss. He stated that he was forced to sell his property and had already paid a lot.The Court also suggested a structured payment of ₹3 crore within a fixed timeline, clarifying that it was only a judicial proposal and not a finalized settlement. Despite these efforts, the parties failed to reach an agreement.The High Court further cautioned the parties about the conduct of the proceedings, observing, “Never think that the judge is weak when the judge is good to you,” while pointing out that valuable judicial time is running out.
Rajpal Yadav granted interim suspension of sentence
The actor was granted an interim suspension of the sentence by the Delhi High Court, which continued to stay the operation during the pendency of the proceedings.The petitions were filed by Rajpal Yadav and another against M/s Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd. and another, challenging the orders passed by the trial court in several dishonored check cases.
Rajpal Yadav has already paid Rs 4.25 crore
Earlier, the Delhi High Court extended the interim suspension of the sentence given to Rajpal Yadav after it was observed that the actor had already paid a huge amount to the complainant company.During the hearing, the lawyer appearing for Yadav informed the Delhi High Court that about Rs 4.25 crore has already been paid to M/s Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd., including a demand draft of Rs 25 lakh granted by the court. Observing that the actor has already made huge payments, Justice Sharma orally said that the court did not want to send him back to jail at that stage.The Delhi High Court also refused to vacate its earlier order suspending Yadav’s sentence despite an application filed by the complainant seeking to cancel the interim relief.“He didn’t run. He’s still here… If the money is supposed to come to you, it will come,” the Delhi High Court observed, while explaining that the actor should honor the settlement or contest the case on merits.
The Delhi High Court ordered Rajpal Yadav to surrender before the Jail Superintendent
Earlier, in February, the Delhi High Court had directed Rajpal Yadav to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent after observing his repeated failure to fulfill commitments in the trial despite being given several opportunities.Justice Sharma then observed that despite “significant laxity”, the actor has repeatedly violated court-ordered undertakings and failed to adhere to the payment timelines set from time to time.Subsequently, the actor was granted an interim suspension of the sentence after depositing part of the settlement amount, paving the way for his release from jail while the High Court continues to hear the main petitions. Rajpal Yadav was convicted and sentenced in 2024 in several cases of check dishonoring under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
