New Delhi, 02 April (H.S.):

The Delhi High Court has reserved its verdict in the cheque‑bounce case against Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav, after conducting a hearing on Thursday. A bench headed by Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma attempted to broker a settlement between the two parties, but the effort did not succeed, after which the court kept its order “reserved” (pronounced in Hindi as “reserved for judgment”) for later pronouncement.

During the hearing, the court adjourned the proceedings mid‑day to allow the parties to negotiate. When the session resumed, Murali Projects Pvt Ltd, the complainant, stated that a sum of ₹7.75 crore still remained outstanding. It pointed out that Rajpal Yadav had deposited ₹2 crore before the trial court, and the court observed that this amount would need to be adjusted against the dues.

The complainant then proposed that the matter be settled for ₹6.25 crore. Rajpal Yadav’s counsel, however, countered that only about ₹5.75 crore was actually due. The court then directed that ₹6 crore be paid within 18 days, but Yadav’s counsel asserted that the complainant had already received ₹17 crore over the course of the dispute and that he was prepared to go back to court and even serve five more jail terms if necessary.

Ultimately, the two sides failed to arrive at a mutually acceptable settlement.

Rajpal Yadav appeared before the High Court via video‑conferencing during the hearing.

Earlier, on March 18, his counsel had informed the court that he had already paid ₹4.25 crore to Murali Projects Pvt Ltd. The High Court had earlier, on February 16, released Rajpal Yadav on interim bail in the ₹9‑crore cheque‑bounce matter and had extended the suspension of his sentence after acknowledging “substantial” payments, directing that the matter be heard again on April 1.

On February 5, the same court had refused to recall its earlier order directing him to surrender, and he had subsequently walked into Tihar Jail to begin serving his sentence.

Rajpal Yadav and his wife, Radha Yadav, were convicted by the Karkardooma Court under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in seven cheque‑dishonour cases linked to a film‑related loan dispute. The trial court had imposed a fine of ₹1.6 crore on Rajpal Yadav and a separate penalty of ₹10 lakh per case on Radha, while also sentencing them to six months’ simple imprisonment, which was later suspended by the High Court.

The complainant, Murali Projects Pvt Ltd, had alleged that Rajpal Yadav, through his company, had taken a ₹5‑crore loan in May 2010 to complete the film Ata Pata Lapata and had agreed to repay ₹8 crore with interest, later revised through three fresh agreements culminating in a final commitment of ₹11.10 crore, none of which was fully honoured. Rajpal’s cheques issued in discharge of these dues kept bouncing, triggering the criminal proceedings.

In his defence, Rajpal Yadav had told the court that he had never taken a loan from Murali Projects but had instead invested money in the company’s film venture. However, the Karkardooma Court dismissed this argument, holding him liable for the dishonoured cheques and convicting him under Section 138. The Delhi High Court has now reserved its judgment on the challenge to that conviction and the related sentencing and bail directions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar