Ace actor and comedian Rajpal Yadav, who has entertained an entire generation with his comic timing, is currently embroiled in a decade-old cheque bounce case involving around Rs 9 crore. The actor had taken a loan for the production of his film and failed to repay the amount, leading to a legal battle that has continued for years.
Rajpal Yadav has sought time from the Supreme Court on several occasions in connection with the case. He was also jailed in the matter and, after being released, has been seen juggling court hearings along with his film shoots.
Rajpal has so far paid Rs 1.15 crore and has sought an extension to pay the remaining amount. The Supreme Court has now directed him to deposit another Rs 85 lakh by Tuesday, October 13, as part of the Rs 2 crore payment it had ordered earlier.
WHEN THE COURTROOM SPEAKS BEYOND LAW
When CJI Surya Kant reportedly told Rajpal Yadav, “Koi nayi movie banao,” the moment instantly travelled beyond the courtroom.
But beneath the humour lies a harder truth: a court case may involve a celebrity, but justice cannot become celebrity theatre.
The Bench may speak lightly.
The law must still speak precisely.
A courtroom can smile—but its final language must always be law, reason and due process.Because in a constitutional court, personality may create the headline; principle must decide the case.
#RajpalYadav #CJISuryaKant #SupremeCourt #SupremeCourtOfIndia #RuleOfLaw #DueProcess #Constitution #LegalNews #Courtroom #NKGoswami
— Narendra Goswami (@NarendraGoswami) October 7, 2026
Supreme Court asks Rajpal to deposit Rs 2 crore
The Supreme Court had admitted Rajpal Yadav’s appeal against his conviction on September 8 and directed him to deposit Rs 2 crore as part payment to establish his bona fides. He was also directed to deposit his passport.
Rajpal has already deposited Rs 1.15 crore. During the latest hearing, the Supreme Court directed him to deposit the remaining Rs 85 lakh by October 13.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, warned the actor of strict action if he failed to comply with the order.
The court also made it clear that it could consider enhancing his punishment to up to two years of imprisonment.
“You comply with our order to deposit Rs 85 lakh, and for the remaining amount, we will lay down a schedule,” the court said.
Why Rajpal Yadav could not pay the remaining amount
Rajpal’s lawyer told the court that the actor was arranging the money through the sale of a property. However, the transaction could not be completed within the stipulated period due to the Shraddh period, which is traditionally considered inauspicious for such transactions.
The purchaser of Rajpal’s land was also present in court and agreed to transfer Rs 85 lakh through a demand draft.
Senior advocate Ajit Kumar Sinha, appearing for Murli Projects along with advocate Manish Raghav, said that if Rajpal was willing to pay Rs 2 crore, the court could fix a schedule for repayment of the remaining amount.
VIDEO | Delhi: Actor Rajpal Yadav reaches Supreme Court for hearing in cheque-bounce case after court pulls him up over non-payment of dues.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/efd0HeDUKt
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 7, 2026
Rajpal Yadav speaks about financial losses and reputation
During the hearing, the court also interacted with Rajpal and asked him about his current work.
Responding in Hindi, the actor said that he had acted in more than 250 films over 13 years but had suffered losses of over Rs 22 crore after making the film at the centre of the dispute.
Rajpal also spoke about the impact of the case on his reputation, saying he had spent more than six months in jail because of the matter.
His lawyer explained that the film was supposed to be made under a joint venture, but Rajpal was eventually left to handle the situation alone. The actor also claimed that the film could not be released in theatres because of a court stay, resulting in significant financial losses.
The CJI told Rajpal that he should learn from the situation and focus on making good films and entertaining audiences. “Your reputation will automatically be redeemed,” the court said.
As of now, the Supreme Court directed that the matter be listed again after the payment is made.
What is the Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case against Rajpal Yadav?
The case dates back to 2010, when Rajpal Yadav took a loan of more than Rs 5 crore from M/s Murli Projects Limited for the production of a film. According to the case, he had committed to repay around Rs 8 crore but defaulted on the payment.
The company subsequently filed a criminal case against the actor. The amount involved in the dispute has since increased with interest and other dues, taking the total liability to around Rs 9 crore.
The matter eventually resulted in Rajpal’s conviction. In May 2024, the Delhi High Court upheld a three-month sentence imposed on the actor over his failure to repay the principal loan amount along with the accrued interest.