Actor Rajpal Yadav Can Travel Abroad After Depositing Rs 2 Crore In Cheque Case

The Supreme Court has allowed Rajpal Yadav to travel abroad for professional commitments after a Rs 2 crore deposit. His cheque-dishonour dispute has been referred to mediation.

Actor Rajpal Yadav has received permission from the Supreme Court to travel abroad for professional commitments after depositing Rs 2 crore with the court. The court has also referred his long-running cheque-dishonour dispute to mediation, giving both sides an opportunity to settle the matter.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the dispute could be resolved amicably, considering the amount deposited and the issues raised by both parties. The court directed the trial court to release Yadav’s passport, subject to conditions, so he can travel for work.

Rajpal Yadav’s counsel, advocate Vikrant, told the court that the actor needed to travel to Canada for a professional assignment and could earn money by attending the event. His lawyer also said Yadav had deposited the entire Rs 2 crore in compliance with the court’s earlier directions and urged the bench to hear his challenge to his conviction and three-month sentence in seven cheque-dishonour cases on merits.

The Chief Justice initially said the court would hear the matter but later suggested mediation. Addressing the respondent, he said, “Why don’t you now settle the dispute? If you are reasonable and fair… Rs 2 crore is lying with us. You should also be reasonable and try to settle (the matter),"

The bench also issued directions on how the mediation should proceed. “Parties to contact the mediator and fix the date for appearance. The mediator can ask the parties to appear in person or online. To enable petitioner No.1 (Yadav) to continue professional pursuit, the trial court shall release his passport subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the court. Petitioner (actor) to travel only in compliance with those conditions and on return shall inform the trial court," the bench ordered.

Rajpal Yadav Sold Ancestral Property To Arrange Money

During the hearing, Yadav’s counsel said the actor had sold his ancestral property to arrange the Rs 2 crore deposit. The Chief Justice, however, observed that the scope for the Supreme Court to intervene at this stage was limited. The court had earlier taken note of payments made by the actor in the case. On October 7, the Chief Justice had urged Yadav to make a good film, entertain people again and rebuild his image. At the time, the bench noted that he had paid Rs 1.15 crore in connection with the long-running dispute.

What Is The Cheque-Dishonour Case Against Rajpal Yadav?

The dispute dates back to a financial agreement in 2010, when Yadav received Rs 5 crore from M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd to finance his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata.

The complainant alleged that Yadav issued seven cheques of Rs 1.05 crore each in 2013 towards repayment of the financial assistance. The cheques were dishonoured. According to the firm, an agreement signed in 2012 stated that Yadav, his wife and their company had agreed to repay around Rs 11 crore, including interest.

The legal proceedings have continued for years. In April 2018, a magisterial court convicted Yadav in the cheque-dishonour cases and sentenced him to six months in prison. A sessions court upheld the conviction in 2019, and the actor and his wife later challenged the decision.

On July 10, the Delhi High Court upheld Yadav’s conviction in the cases and reduced his sentence to three months. It refused to condone a delay of 1,894 days, or more than five years, in filing petitions against the conviction. The court also directed Yadav to pay more than Rs 1 crore to the complainant in each of the seven cases, while clarifying that around Rs 2 crore already paid by him would be adjusted.

The High Court also ordered Yadav’s wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, to pay a fine of around Rs 5.5 lakh in each case. If she fails to pay, she would face three months of simple imprisonment.

The Supreme Court had issued notice on Yadav’s plea on September 8 and linked relief from surrendering to a deposit of Rs 5 crore with its registry. On September 15, it extended his exemption from surrendering until October 5. The latest order allows him to pursue his overseas work while the parties attempt to resolve the dispute through mediation.