Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav has been sentenced to three months in jail after the Delhi High Court upheld the punishment awarded in cheque bounce cases.
The court said the law is equal for everyone, regardless of whether a person is a celebrity.
Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma upheld the lower court’s order and sentenced Rajpal Yadav to three months of simple imprisonment in each case. However, all the sentences will run together, meaning he will serve a total of three months in jail.
The court said Rajpal Yadav had earlier assured that he would settle the dispute amicably, and was given several opportunities to do so. However, he failed to honour the settlement terms and eventually refused to make any further payment to the complainant.
The High Court also upheld the financial penalties imposed by the lower court. Rajpal Yadav was directed to pay ₹1.05 crore in each case, along with an additional penalty. His wife, Radha Yadav, was also fined in connection with the case.
The court noted that ₹2.25 crore has already been paid to the complainant company, M/s Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd., and this amount will be adjusted while calculating the remaining compensation.
The High Court also criticised VIP culture, saying no one should receive special treatment because of their status or profession. It stressed that the same law applies to everyone.
Rajpal Yadav has been given two months to approach the Supreme Court if he wishes to challenge the High Court’s verdict.