Actor Rajpal Yadav Sentenced to 3 Months Jail in Cheque Bounce Cases
The Delhi High Court on Friday upheld the conviction of actor Rajpal Yadav in multiple cheque-bounce cases and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. The court also ordered Yadav to pay over Rs 1 crore to the complainant in each of the seven cases.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, in her observation, stated, "Law is not a script that can be rewritten at the will of an actor, nor can legal positions be altered with every change of strategy, whosoever the litigant may be."
The court noted that about Rs 2 crore already paid by the actor would be adjusted against the total amount. The sentence has been kept in abeyance for two months to allow Yadav time to appeal.
In addition, the court imposed a fine of approximately Rs 5.5 lakh on the actor's wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, in each case, payable to the complainant. It warned that she would face a three-month jail term if she fails to pay.
In a 108-page verdict, the High Court said Yadav repeatedly failed to honour his undertakings to make payment to the complainant, M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd. The court made "earnest efforts" to facilitate an amicable resolution, but the actor ultimately refused to make any further payment.
During the hearing, Yadav stated that he would rather go to jail five times than return the money. Justice Sharma responded that if a litigant wished to choose imprisonment rather than abide by multiple undertakings submitted in court, it was his choice.
According to the complaint filed in 2013, Yadav had issued seven cheques towards settlement of Rs 5 crore financial assistance provided to him for a film in 2010. The cheques were dishonoured, leading to the legal proceedings.
