Actor Rajpal Yadav surrenders at Tihar jail after Delhi HC refuses relief in cheque-bounce case

In a shocking turn of events, actor Rajpal Yadav surrendered at Tihar Jail in connection with an ongoing cheque bounce case after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him any relief. The actor had sought an extension of the deadline for his surrender before the High Court, but the court refused to extend the time for compliance.

Refusing to grant more time, the court said it cannot be expected to create special circumstances merely because the petitioner belongs to a particular background or industry.

According to jail officials, Yadav surrendered before the Jail Superintendent at around 4 pm on Thursday, following the High Court's direction.

The order came from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who strongly criticised the actor for failing to comply with an earlier direction requiring him to surrender on February 4, as per the High Court's February 2 order. The court also declined to recall its previous direction mandating his surrender before the Jail Superintendent, Tihar.

During the hearing, Yadav's counsel submitted that the actor could not surrender on February 4, as he was attempting to arrange money to repay the complainant and was unable to reach Delhi by 4 pm. The counsel sought a recall of the surrender order, requesting more time for repayment.

The actor's lawyer also told the court that his client had arranged Rs 50 lakh and sought an additional week to make the payment.

However, the court refused the plea, stating, "This Court cannot be expected to show or create special circumstances for any person merely because such a person belongs to a particular background or industry. Leniency, though sometimes necessary, cannot be extended endlessly, especially when it is met with continued non-compliance."

Emphasising the importance of compliance, the court said the law rewards obedience, not contempt, and warned that repeated leniency would send the wrong message that court orders can be ignored without consequences.

"In these circumstances, this Court finds no merit in the plea of the counsel for the petitioner to recall its order directing surrender of the petitioner (Rajpal Yadav) before the Jail Superintendent, Tihar. He is directed to surrender before the Jail Superintendent, Tihar, immediately today," the court ordered.

What is the case against Rajpal Yadav?

The case stems from a complaint filed by M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd. against Rajpal Yadav and his wife over multiple bounced cheques and failure to repay dues. In 2018, a magistrate's court in Delhi convicted the actor and his wife in cheque bounce cases, sentencing Yadav to six months' imprisonment. The conviction was upheld by a sessions court in 2019.

The Yadavs later challenged the verdict in the Delhi High Court. In June 2024, the conviction was temporarily suspended after the High Court urged the actor to take "sincere and genuine measures" to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement with the complainant.