The Supreme Court has directed actor Rajpal Yadav to deposit demand drafts worth ₹1.15 crore with its registry during the course of the day, while granting time until October 13 to deposit the balance ₹85 lakh through a prospective buyer of his property, as part of a ₹2 crore interim deposit requirement in an ongoing cheque-bounce case.

Yadav, who was present in the court, submitted that he had acted in over 250 films but suffered losses to the tune of ₹250 crore due to his movie Aata Pata Laapata. To which Chief Justice Kant suggested that he should make more new movies and keep entertaining people. 

Previously, the Court gave the last opportunity of two weeks to actor Rajpal Yadav to come out with a concrete proposal to pay an outstanding amount to a private firm and directed him to deposit Rs 2 crore with the Apex Court registry.

The Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana ordered, "The petitioner has brought demand drafts amounting to 1.15 crore rupees, which he is directed to deposit with the registry during the course of the day. Regarding the remaining 85 lakh rupees, the petitioner claims that the prospective buyer of his property is present in court. Mr. Anant Prakash Yadav is present in court and is willing to deposit the sum of 85 lakh rupees by way of a demand draft with the registry on October 13th. Upon doing so, we will hear the Special Leave Petition on the fixed date. List the matter after two weeks."


Chief Justice Surya Kant asked Rajpal Yadav, "Rajpal Yadav, kuch bana rahe ho koi movie wagera koi?"

Rajpal Yadav, who was present in Court, submitted, "Do-dhai so filmein ki hain, pichle 13 saal se do-dhai so crore ka nuksan bhi kar chuka hu Aata Pata Laapata mein. Bahut sari branding ja chuki hai, bahut sara...ki wo 17 crore mera dooba, 5 crore inhone... 5 crore ne 17 crore dooba diya. Venice ka saudagar wala case hai huzoor, chaho, jab chaho, jahan bhej do, main har samay ready hu. Lekin ye 22 crore ne, 22 crore total tha, 5 crore ne 17 crore ko 2013 se mitti mila ke ₹1 nahi kamane diya. Mere khilaf press conference ki gayi, meri film ko stay le liya gaya, wo 1200 theater mein release honi thi, ek theater mein release nahi ho payi.

"Aur pehle 5 ka 8 inko milna tha, baki mera sab tha. Inhone 5 crore... 5 ka 8 tay hua tha. Aur wo 5 apne inhone 2012 mein bola, mere dost the, bole main 1000-1500 crore ka aadmi hu, 5 crore kahan aata hai, kahan jata hai. Jiski kasam khilwaye, Gita ki kasam...kaan gawah hain, bole ab tumhe court mein ragadunga. Ab, ab tumhe court mein 5 crore to 2012 hi mein nipat raha tha, lekin ye 5 crore ne mere 22 crore dooba ke aur 250 crore ki branding pichle 16 saal mein niptawai, aur meri badnami to jo hui, main to 16 saal se bilkul sabka manoranjan kar raha hu, ab aapke liye pure jeevan manoranjan hazir hai", he added.

To which Chief Justice Kant said, "Koi achhi si movie bana ke logon ko entertain karo, usse aapki... aapki izzat dubara ban jayegi...Koi aur nayi film banaiye, hamare yahan kuch advocate bhi bade achhe actor hain, unko bhi role de dijiye."

During the mentioning, Yadav's counsel submitted that, in compliance with the direction to deposit ₹2 crores, demand drafts in the sum of ₹1.15 crores were ready for deposit before the registry during the course of the day.

He further submitted that the prospective buyer for his property was present in court and was prepared to pay the remaining balance of ₹85 lakhs. It was explained that owing to the ongoing Pitru Paksha period, the buyer expressed reluctance to execute the formal sale deed immediately, seeking time until the commencement of Navratri. He submitted that the buyer was nevertheless willing to deposit the amount of ₹85 lakhs in advance.

The bench observed that the petitioner had undergone only civil imprisonment for three months and warned that, given the petitioner's conduct, notice for enhancement of sentence up to two years would be issued under the Special Leave Petition, and the petitioner would be taken into custody pending final hearing.

The Court said, "First satisfy the court on merits, and then receive the balance. If there is no merit, we will decide accordingly."

The complainant alleged that, in 2013, Yadav tendered seven cheques of Rs 1.05 crore each towards settlement of financial assistance of Rs 5 crore to him for a film in 2010. The cheques were dishonoured, the firm further alleged. According to the complainant, an agreement between the parties in 2012 stated that Yadav, his wife and their company had agreed to repay around Rs 11 crore, including interest.

On July 10, the Delhi High Court upheld the conviction of Yadav in multiple cheque-bounce cases and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. In the 108-page verdict, the High Court observed that Yadav repeatedly failed to honour his undertakings on making payment to the complainant, M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd, and while the court made "earnest efforts" to facilitate an amicable resolution in the matter, the actor categorically refused to make any further payment.

In June 2024, the High Court temporarily suspended his conviction, subject to him adopting "sincere and genuine measures" to explore the possibility of reaching an amicable settlement with the opposite party.

At that time, Yadav's counsel said that it was a genuine transaction to finance the production of a movie, which bombed at the box office, resulting in huge financial losses to Yadav.

However, on February 2, the Court asked Yadav to surrender on February 4, observing that he repeatedly breached his undertakings to the Court to repay the amount. Consequently, on February 4, the Court refused to extend a deadline given to actor Rajpal Yadav to surrender before jail authorities.

On February 16, the Court suspended his sentence for the time being and permitted him to be released from jail after he deposited Rs 1.5 crore in the bank account of a complainant.

Cause Title: Rajpal Naurang Yadav and Anr v. M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd [SLP(Crl) 16923/2026]

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