Bollywood actor and comedian Rajpal Yadav has been sentenced to three months in prison after the Delhi High Court upheld his conviction in a cheque bounce case linked to the financing of his 2010 film Ata Pata Laapata.
The High Court confirmed the earlier conviction and ordered Rajpal Yadav to serve a three-month sentence in each of the seven cases filed against him. However, the court ruled that all sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of three months in prison rather than separate consecutive terms.
The court also granted the actor two months to file an appeal against the latest judgment.
According to Indian media reports, the High Court directed Rajpal Yadav to pay compensation of INR10.5 million to the complainant in each of the seven cases. In addition, the court ordered him to pay another INR10.4 million to the complainant along with INR25,000 to the state.
The court further instructed Rajpal Yadav and his wife, Radha Yadav, to jointly pay INR551,000 in each of the seven cases.
Judges also clarified that the INR22.5 million already deposited by the actor would be adjusted against the total amount payable under the court’s order. However, the court warned that failure to clear the remaining dues would result in an additional six-month prison sentence.
The High Court declined to grant the benefit of probation. It cited the actor’s conduct during the legal proceedings as the reason for denying that relief. The court also directed him to comply fully with the financial penalties imposed by the trial court.
The legal dispute dates back to 2010 when Murli Projects Private Limited reportedly provided a loan of INR50 million to finance the production of Ata Pata Laapata. The film failed to perform well at the box office, making it difficult for the producers to repay the borrowed amount.
As a result, multiple cheques issued against the loan were dishonoured, leading to several cheque bounce cases under Indian law.
The matter has remained in court for more than a decade. In 2018, a trial court convicted Rajpal Yadav and sentenced him to six months in prison in connection with the cheque dishonour cases. During that period, reports stated that the outstanding liability had increased to nearly INR90 million.
The case continued to develop over the following years. In August 2024, authorities reportedly attached the actor’s property because of unpaid dues linked to the dispute.
Later, in February 2026, Rajpal Yadav briefly remained in custody before obtaining interim relief after making a partial payment toward the outstanding amount.
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The latest High Court decision marks another major development in the long-running legal battle. While the actor has been given time to challenge the verdict, he must also comply with the court’s financial orders to avoid further legal consequences.
