Rajpal Yadav Must Deposit Rs 2 Crore by October 12, SC Warns

Rajpal Yadav’s 16-year-old cheque-bounce battle has reached a moment of partial relief—but not a full stop. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court gave the actor conditional accommodation after he brought demand drafts worth Rs 1.15 crore to court, with a property buyer promising to deposit the remaining Rs 85 lakh by October 12.

For an actor whose face is synonymous with Hindi film comedy, the hearing was a serious reminder that legal wrangles can outlast even the longest career. The court’s order keeps the case alive while giving Yadav a narrow window to meet the deadline.

What the bench said

The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana recorded the offer, but made it clear that Yadav’s conduct had not won the court over. Justice Bagchi reportedly told him, “We are not satisfied with this,” and said the accommodation was being given to provide equitable relief to the complainant, not because the court was impressed by his bona fides or the merits.

The hearing followed the court’s sharp displeasure over what it had called a “last opportunity” on September 15. The court has already warned that the sentence in this cheque-bounce case could be enhanced if he falls short again.

Where the dispute began

The case stems from a 2010 arrangement in which Yadav allegedly received Rs 5 crore from the complainant to finance Ata Pata Laapata, his directorial debut. By 2012, the parties had agreed that Yadav, his wife and their company would repay about Rs 11 crore, including interest.

• 2010: Rs 5 crore financing tied to Ata Pata Laapata.
• 2012: Repayment agreement of roughly Rs 11 crore, including interest.
• October 7: Yadav deposits Rs 1.15 crore in demand drafts.
• October 12: Rs 85 lakh expected from prospective buyer Anant Prakash Yadav.

The actor’s side of the story

Yadav told the court he has worked in 200 to 250 films, but claims to have lost Rs 200-250 crore over the last 13 years. He said Ata Pata Laapata, released in 2012, cost him Rs 17 crore and was stalled after a press conference was held against him; planned for 1,200 screens, he said it did not release in even one theatre.

Those figures are Yadav’s own claims in court, not a confirmed balance sheet. Still, they explain the long shadow Ata Pata Laapata has cast over his career—a film that never found a screen but keeps generating legal chapters.

CJI Surya Kant offered a path forward: return to work and rebuild an image through films that entertain audiences. Yadav responded with a title for his 2010-to-2026 legal saga—Solah Sawan Jhel Ke—keeping the exchange in characteristically comic territory even in a sober courtroom.

What happens next

The Supreme Court said it would consider specific conditional relief on day-to-day terms once the full Rs 2 crore is deposited. For fans, the priority is simple: the comedian’s immediate future remains tied to a bank draft, not a box-office number.

Source: The Times of India