Delhi High Court Orders Actor Rajpal Yadav to Surrender in Cheque Bounce Cases

The Delhi High Court has directed Bollywood actor Rajpal Naurang Yadav to surrender to jail authorities by February 4, 2026, after repeatedly failing to honour court-mandated financial commitments in a series of cheque bounce cases. The stern order comes after prolonged litigation and multiple missed deadlines related to settlement payments running into several crores of rupees.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma presided over the matter and expressed strong disapproval of Yadav’s conduct, noting that the court had granted considerable leniency over an extended period in the expectation that outstanding amounts would be paid. The judge observed that despite clear timelines being fixed in successive orders, Yadav had consistently defaulted on payment obligations, even after promising partial payments through demand drafts and instalment schedules. The explanations offered for the delays, including technical or typographical issues with drafts, were dismissed as unconvincing given the pattern of non-compliance.

The case stems from convictions under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in multiple cheque dishonour complaints filed against Yadav and his wife. A trial court had sentenced them to six months’ simple imprisonment, but the High Court had previously suspended the sentence in June 2024 to facilitate an amicable settlement. When repeated extensions failed to yield meaningful payments, the High Court revoked its earlier indulgence.

In its latest order, the court also directed that amounts already deposited with the Registrar General be released in favour of the complainant company. While the surrender deadline was set in the interest of justice, the court took account of the actor’s ongoing professional engagements in Mumbai in granting a brief window to report to the jail superintendent. Compliance will be reviewed at the next hearing on February 5, 2026.