Delhi High Court Grants Relief to Rajpal Yadav, Jail Term Suspended
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Delhi,16, February 2026-In a pivotal interlocutory order, the Delhi High Court on Monday suspended the custodial sentence imposed on Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav in a cheque bounce case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, thereby facilitating his immediate release from incarceration.
Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, exercising inherent powers under Section 482 CrPC, directed that the sentence shall remain stayed until the next hearing fixed for March 18, 2026. The reprieve follows Yadav’s compliance with the court’s directive to deposit Rs 1.5 crore with the complainant, Murali Projects Private Limited, represented by Advocate Avneet Singh Sikka.
Yadav apprised the court of his niece’s impending nuptials on February 19, 2026, urging humanitarian consideration alongside his deposit. Justice Sharma, balancing the twin objectives of expeditious justice and settlement under the NI Act’s framework, accorded interim relief in light of these developments.
Background and Procedural History
The genesis traces to May 2024, when a Sessions Court convicted Yadav and sentenced him to six months’ simple imprisonment, coupled with a compensation order of Rs 2.5 crore, originating from a dishonoured cheque issued to the production house.
Yadav’s initial appeal led to a conditional suspension by the High Court, premised on his counsel—Senior Advocate Abhijat—undertaking an amicable settlement. Non-compliance ensued, prompting judicial scrutiny.
On February 2, 2026, the court rebuffed Yadav’s plea for phased payments—Rs 40 lakh by December 16, 2025, and the balance Rs 2.1 crore by January 15, 2026—citing his failure to honour assurances and rectify a defective demand draft. Noting the absence of remedial steps, the Bench mandated surrender before the Jail Superintendent within two days.
Yadav’s subsequent plea for extension on February 4 was dismissed. He duly surrendered on February 5, only to secure this fresh suspension upon substantial payment.
The order underscores the judiciary’s insistence on compliance while preserving avenues for restitution, with further adjudication slated for March 18.
