Delhi HC Sentences Rajpal Yadav to Three Months in Jail

Synopsis

A Delhi High Court upholding the conviction of star actor Rajpal Yadav in seven cheque bounce offences, has ordered him to serve three months' simple imprisonment, which is to be served concurrently. He was asked by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to pay more than ₹1 crore per case as he had assured to settle the debt with the complainant company on several occasions without making any payments.

After years of litigation, Court Upholds Conviction

Actor Rajpal Yadav was sentenced to three months' jail term by the Delhi High Court after upholding his conviction in cheque bounce cases on Friday. Justices Swarana Kanta Sharma, in a batch of seven cases filed by M/s Murli Projects Private Limited against Yadav, for three months' simple imprisonment each on a concurrent basis.

Financial Penalties Imposed

The court also imposed a fine of ₹1.05 crore on Yadav in each case and a fine of over ₹5 lakh per case on his wife Radha Rajpal Yadav. The judge explained that the sum of around ₹2 crore paid by the actor would be deducted from the total.

Outline the path of unfulfilled undertakings

The judge's rulings stem from repeated opportunities rewarded to the actor over the years. Justice Sharma said that he (Yadav) and his counsel made several statements and assurances, and despite repeated opportunities and assurances, the same was not fulfilled.

The case was even taken up at the Mediation Centre of the Delhi High Court, but the actor has not made the promised payments, even after repeated adjournments asked for settlement.

Earlier in February, 2026, the High Court had issued an order for his surrender before the jail authorities but the order was ignored by Yadav, who surrendered before the jail authorities on 5th February, 2026, after depositing ₹1.5 crore with the complainant, and he remains in custody till the High Court granted an interim suspension of sentence.

The views of the Court on judicial process

The bench was strong on its comments on parties trying to change the approach in the middle of the case. The court stated that "Courts do not evaluate based on any actor's script, nor do they change legal positions due to the change of strategy, regardless of who the litigant may be.

Courts decide based on the settled law and the record in front of them and apply the law equally for both sides. It also found that the Probation of Offenders Act did not provide any discretionary benefit to Yadav.

Background of the Case

The proceedings were in response to revision petitions filed by Yadav and his wife against the conviction by the magisterial court, registered in April 2018, in a case which was taken to the sessions court in 2019. The court has given Yadav two months to appeal against the judgment before the Supreme Court.