The Delhi High Court on Wednesday March 18, declined to send Bollywood actor Rajpal Naurang Yadav to jail for the time being in cheque dishonour cases filed against him. The Court noted that the actor had already made a substantial payment to the complainant company.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said the Court would hear Yadav’s petitions challenging his conviction before taking any further step.
Background of the Case
The dispute arises from cheque dishonour proceedings filed by M/s Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd. against the actor. Yadav had earlier given undertakings before the Court regarding payment of settlement amounts.
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However, on February 2, the High Court had directed him to surrender before the Tihar Jail Superintendent after observing that he repeatedly breached payment commitments made to the complainant.
At that stage, Justice Sharma had remarked that the actor’s conduct “deserves to be deprecated,” noting that several opportunities had already been given to him to honour the settlement.
When the matter was taken up again on Wednesday after the expiry of an earlier interim suspension of sentence, Yadav appeared before the Court in person.
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His counsel informed the bench that another application seeking suspension of sentence was being moved.
Responding to this, the Court orally remarked,
“I am not sending him to jail. I will be hearing the main petition… He has already made substantial payment.”
The Court also said that the actor could either comply with the consent agreement by clearing the remaining payment or argue the matter on merits.
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Addressing the complainant’s counsel, the bench added,
“He is not running away. He is still here. If the money has to come to you, it will come. I will decide it within a week.”
The High Court directed that the interim suspension of Yadav’s sentence will continue. The case has been listed for further hearing on April 1.
Case Title: SH. Rajpal Naurang Yadav & Anr v. M/s Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd & Anr
