In a sharp rebuke over repeated breaches of court assurances, the Delhi High Court withdrew the protection earlier granted to Bollywood actor Rajpal Naurang Yadav and directed him to surrender before jail authorities by February 4, 2026, holding that continued leniency was no longer justified after persistent non-compliance with settlement undertakings.
The controversy arose from a batch of cheque dishonour cases filed by M/s Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd. against Yadav and his wife under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, in which they were convicted and sentenced to six months’ simple imprisonment. Seeking suspension of sentence, Yadav approached the High Court expressing willingness to amicably settle the dispute. Acting on these assurances, the Court suspended the sentence as early as June 2024 and repeatedly extended protection over the following months, granting multiple opportunities to deposit substantial settlement amounts running into crores. Despite firm commitments, including a promise to pay Rs.2.5 crore in tranches of Rs.40 lakh and Rs.2.10 crore, deadlines repeatedly lapsed without compliance.
Each default was followed by fresh explanations, revised timelines, and assurances of prepared demand drafts. Even after clear warnings that indulgence would be withdrawn, the promised payments were not made. Excuses citing typographical errors in demand drafts and issues with uploading of orders were also raised, but no concrete steps were taken to rectify the defaults or seek formal clarification from the Court.
Taking a stern view, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma held that Yadav’s conduct “deserves to be deprecated,” noting that assurances were given despite full awareness that time was being granted solely on the strength of those promises. The Court found that such explanations did not inspire confidence and emphasised that courts cannot be taken for granted.
Holding that there was “no justification to continue the indulgence” any further, the Court directed that the amounts already deposited be released to the complainant company and ordered Rajpal Yadav to surrender before the concerned jail authorities by February 4, 2026, to serve the sentence imposed by the trial court.
Case No.: Sh. Rajpal Naurang Yadav & Anr Vs. M/S. Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd & Anr
Coram: Hon'ble Dr. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma
Advocate for the Petitioner: Senior Adv. Abhijat, Adv. Harshvardhan Gupta and Adv. Satyam Gupta,
Advocate for the Respondent: Adv. S.K. Sharma,
Read Judgment @Latestlaws.com
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