SC stern warning, Rajpal Yadav appears in person, shows Rs 1.15 crore DD, promises to pay remaining Rs 85 lakh
Actor Rajpal Yadav appeared before the Supreme Court with a ₹1.15 crore demand draft following a stern warning regarding a cheque-bounce case.
In a dramatic courtroom appearance, veteran actor Rajpal Yadav appeared personally before the Supreme Court on Wednesday following a stern warning from the bench regarding his failure to settle dues in a long-standing cheque-bounce case.
The actor, who had previously faced a three-month sentence from the Delhi High Court for failing to honor loan repayments, presented a demand draft of ₹1.15 crore to the court. He has pledged to settle the total outstanding amount of ₹2 crore by October 13, with the remaining ₹85 lakh expected to be provided by a property buyer who was also present in the courtroom.
The Legal Battle: A ₹5 Crore Liability
The legal complications stem from a loan of approximately ₹5 crore allegedly taken by Yadav from M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd in 2010. The funds were reportedly intended for his film Ata Pata Laapata. However, the situation escalated when seven repayment cheques, each valued at ₹1.05 crore, were dishonoured, triggering the cheque-bounce proceedings. Over the years, the unpaid amount ballooned due to accumulated interest and additional charges.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana directed Yadav to complete the full ₹2 crore deposit by the October 13 deadline. The court noted that it would only consider his plea against the Delhi High Court's conviction after the payment is secured.
"Law Should Not Be Utilised Like This"
The judges did not mince words regarding the actor's conduct. The bench expressed dissatisfaction with the delays, stating that extensions were being granted solely to ensure the complainant receives their money. "Law should not be utilised like this," the court remarked, warning the actor over his handling of the matter.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi further questioned whether Yadav had already undergone imprisonment and indicated that the court could potentially consider enhancing his sentence if the situation did not improve.
Rajpal Yadav Breaks Silence on Film Losses
Speaking to the media following the proceedings, Rajpal Yadav clarified the nature of the debt, emphasizing that loans are not taken for personal film production but for business investments. "Loans aren't taken out for films. You take a loan to build a house or buy land, not to make movies... Rajpal Yadav is already working on a hundred films himself, so why would he need a loan to make one?" he explained.
The actor also touched upon the massive financial setback caused by the film Ata Pata Laapata, claiming that losses amounting to roughly ₹200-250 crore were incurred, affecting both him and the producers.
A Moment of Levity in the Courtroom
Despite the gravity of the legal proceedings, the courtroom witnessed moments of informal exchange. The CJI, making a play on the film's title, remarked, “Like your movie, your money is also Ata Pata Laapata, gayab (disappeared).”
In response to the court's inclination to speak with him, Yadav greeted the bench with “Pranam karta hoon,” sharing the hardships he had faced, including his previous time in jail. The CJI concluded the interaction on a lighter note, advising the actor to focus on making good films to entertain the public, even jokingly suggesting that the advocates in the Supreme Court could be cast in his future projects.