Mumbai: Actor Rajpal Yadav has been given a final opportunity by the Supreme Court to deposit ₹2 crore in connection with an ongoing legal matter.
During the hearing, the court pulled him up over the delay and remarked that he was “perfect in doing drama in Bollywood” and was doing the same in court.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, expressed concerns over Yadav’s previous conduct in the case and questioned whether he could be trusted to fulfil his latest undertaking.
However, the Supreme Court granted him two more weeks after his lawyer assured the bench that he would deposit ₹2 crore and furnish surety for the remaining amount.
The Chief Justice said, “Looking at his past conduct.. how can anybody trust him? He’s perfect in doing drama and acting in Bollywood, he’s doing same thing in Court also.”
The court also extended Yadav’s protection from arrest until the next hearing on October 5, while directing him to surrender his passport.
The case dates back to 2010, when Yadav borrowed ₹5 crore from M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to fund his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata.
The film failed at the box office, and the loan remained unpaid. With interest accumulating, the outstanding amount rose to nearly ₹9 crore, leading to a prolonged legal dispute.
At an earlier hearing, Yadav’s lawyer informed the court that around ₹4.25 crore had already been paid to the complainant.
In 2018, a magistrate court convicted the actor and his wife, Radha, in the case and sentenced them to six months in jail.
A sessions court upheld the conviction in 2019, following which Yadav approached the Delhi High Court in appeal.
In June 2024, the High Court temporarily suspended his sentence and directed him to take “sincere and genuine measures” to clear the outstanding dues.
Yadav later surrendered and was sent to Tihar Jail after failing to repay the amount. He was subsequently granted interim bail after depositing ₹1.5 crore.
His request for a further 30-day extension to arrange the remaining dues was later rejected by the Delhi High Court.