Bollywood actor and comedian Rajpal Yadav has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment after the Delhi High Court upheld his conviction in a long-running cheque bounce case linked to the financing of his 2010 film Ata Pata Laapata.
The court ordered that Yadav serve a three-month sentence in each of the seven cases against him, with all sentences to run concurrently. He has also been granted two months to file an appeal against the judgment.
According to Indian media reports, the High Court directed Yadav to pay compensation of INR10.5 million to the complainant in each of the seven cases. The court also ordered him to pay an additional INR10.4 million to the complainant and INR25,000 to the state. Yadav and his wife, Radha Yadav, have further been instructed to pay INR551,000 in each case.
The court clarified that the INR22.5 million already deposited by Yadav would be adjusted against the total amount payable. It also warned that failure to pay the court-ordered amount would result in an additional six months’ imprisonment.
The High Court refused to extend the benefit of probation, citing Yadav’s conduct during the proceedings, and directed him to comply with the fine imposed by the trial court.
The case stems from a loan of INR50 million extended in 2010 by Murli Projects Private Limited to finance Ata Pata Laapata. The film failed at the box office, leaving Yadav unable to repay the debt, which subsequently led to multiple cheque dishonour cases.
In 2018, a trial court convicted the actor and sentenced him to six months in prison in connection with the cheque bounce proceedings, while the outstanding liability reportedly rose to nearly INR90 million.
The dispute has continued for more than a decade. In August 2024, authorities reportedly attached Yadav’s property over the unpaid dues, while in February 2026 he briefly remained in custody before securing interim relief after making a partial payment.
