The Delhi High Court sentenced actor Rajpal Yadav to three months’ imprisonment in each of seven cheque bounce cases connected to a Rs 9-crore debt.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed Yadav to pay Rs 1.05 crore in each case to the complainant, along with Rs 1,04,75,000 and Rs 25,000 to the State.
The Court also ordered his wife, Radha Yadav, to pay Rs 5,51,380 in each case. It clarified that the Rs 2.25 crore already paid by Yadav would be adjusted against the final amount.
The judgment followed failed settlement efforts despite repeated intervention by the High Court. During hearings, Yadav opposed settlement proposals, citing financial losses and property sales. The Court expressed dissatisfaction with his shifting stand on repayment, noting inconsistencies in his submissions.
Advocate Avneet Singh Sikka, appearing for the complainant, argued that Yadav had accepted his conviction and could not avoid liability. He highlighted that the revision petition filed in 2024 carried an unexplained delay of 1,894 days.
The Court attempted to facilitate an amicable settlement, suggesting structured payments of Rs 3 crore. The complainant agreed to accept Rs 6 crore as full settlement, but Yadav declined.
Justice Sharma emphasised that completion of the sentence would not extinguish financial liability arising from dishonoured cheques.
