Rajpal Yadav Surrenders to Tihar Jail Following Court's Order

Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav has surrendered to Tihar Jail after the Delhi High Court rejected his final attempt to avoid imprisonment in a cheque bounce case. The High Court had previously directed Yadav to submit himself to authorities following his failure to make payments to a complainant. On Thursday, Senior Advocate Abhijat, representing Yadav, requested a last-minute reprieve, claiming that a payment of ₹25 lakh (approximately £25,000) would be made immediately, with a repayment plan for the remaining amount also tentatively outlined.

However, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed this application, reiterating that Yadav was required to have surrendered by the previous day. She indicated that further considerations from the court would only follow his compliance with this order. In her remarks, Justice Sharma emphasized the importance of respecting legal directives, stating that continuously granting leniency to individuals who disregard the law sends a detrimental message to the public. "This Court cannot allow this message to be conveyed," she stated, highlighting the necessity for the law to be upheld uniformly.

The actor had previously been convicted by a sessions court in May 2024 and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment due to his involvement in cheque bounce cases. However, this sentence was suspended by the High Court when Yadav’s counsel assured the court that Yadav would settle his debts amicably with the aggrieved party, Murli Projects Private Limited. The court eventually ruled that Yadav had failed to meet any of the assurances provided, and noted that his claims of document-related errors were insufficient.

The sequence of events saw Yadav requesting extensions to clear his dues, but the court found no justification for the delay. Previously, Yadav had proposed payments to be made in two phases: an initial amount of ₹40 lakh by December 16, 2025, followed by a remaining ₹2.1 crore by January 15 this year. As noted by the court, he had not fulfilled any of these commitments. The High Court reiterated the legal principle that no special accommodations would be made based on an individual's status or background, reaffirming that equality under the law must be maintained.

Following the court's decision, Yadav stated he would surrender to Tihar Jail on Thursday, adhering to the court's directive. The outcome of this case has garnered significant media attention given the actor's prominence in the film industry and the implications it holds regarding legal accountability. As Yadav begins his sentence, industry observers will be keenly watching for any developments in this high-profile matter.