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Supreme Court Pulls Up Rajpal Yadav, Grants Last Chance to Deposit Rs 5 Crore
The on Monday delivered a blistering rebuke to Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav for repeatedly failing to comply with court orders requiring him to deposit ₹5 crore in connection with seven . A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana granted Yadav a final opportunity to deposit the amount by Tuesday, warning that failure would lead to and .
The actor, who has been convicted and sentenced to three months' imprisonment by the
in multiple cheque-bounce cases under
, had been enjoying
subject to depositing the outstanding amount. However, his repeated non-compliance drew sharp observations from the bench, with Justice Bagchi stating,
"His arrogance needs to be kept in its right place."
Background of the Case
The dispute originates from a financial arrangement between Yadav and , a private firm. According to the complainant, Yadav received a loan of ₹5 crore in for a film project and issued seven cheques of ₹1.05 crore each in towards settlement. All seven cheques were dishonoured. A subsequent agreement in required Yadav, his wife, and their company to repay approximately ₹11 crore, including interest.
The upheld Yadav's conviction and three-month sentence, prompting him to appeal to the Supreme Court. On , the Supreme Court granted Yadav a "" to deposit at least ₹2 crore out of ₹5 crore with the court registry and extended his interim protection until . The court made it clear that the deposit was a condition for continued .
Court's Stern Observations
When the matter was called on , Yadav's counsel informed the bench that a demand draft of ₹50 lakh was in transit from Mumbai to Delhi and that the remaining payment was being processed. The complainant's counsel, , opposed the request, pointing out that Yadav had also failed to deposit his passport as directed.
Justice Bagchi did not mince words.
"We tried to ignore the way he is treating us. To ensure and secure your (complainant's) money. Or we just give him what he deserves, i.e., a dismissal. We want to dismiss his appeal, but we want to also
. To ensure your client gets some money. His arrogance needs to be kept in its right place,"
the judge remarked.
The court further noted that the 15-day period granted on September 15 had expired on
, making Yadav seven days late.
"Why? You had been given 15 days on 15th of September. Today we are on 5th of October. So, you are out of time by 7 days. Did you take out an IA asking for extension of time?"
Justice Bagchi questioned.
The bench also took exception to the manner in which Yadav's counsel addressed the court.
"You should know when to open your mouth when you represent a criminal litigant,"
Justice Bagchi said. The judge added,
"Your client's rest place is in the jail. It is because of this poor complainant. They may be richer than you. But they are poor to the extent you have swindled them."
Legal Implications and Contempt
The case underscores the tension between granting interim protection to convicted persons and ensuring compliance with court orders. The Supreme Court has consistently held that or protection from surrender can be conditional, and failure to meet those conditions may result in cancellation of the protection and initiation of .
The complainant's counsel argued that Yadav's failure to comply with the court's directions made him liable for contempt, noting that the total amount involved was ₹7.5 crore. While the court did not immediately initiate contempt, it made clear that any further non-compliance would be met with dismissal of the appeal and immediate .
Legal experts note that this case serves as a cautionary tale for litigants who treat court orders as optional. The principle of "" is often stretched to its limit, and the judiciary's patience, as seen here, is not infinite. The bench's emphasis on balancing equities—ensuring the complainant recovers money while not unduly punishing the convicted actor—reflects a pragmatic approach to where restitution is often a primary concern.
Final Chance Granted
Despite the strong remarks, the Supreme Court decided to grant Yadav one more opportunity to deposit the amount by Tuesday. The bench posted the matter for Wednesday as the first case, warning that no further extensions would be given. The court observed that it could dismiss the appeal immediately but was reluctant to do so as that might jeopardise the complainant's chances of recovering the money.
Yadav's counsel produced a photo-state copy of a demand draft of ₹50 lakh, claiming it would reach Delhi by Tuesday. The bench expressed skepticism, noting,
"Is this genuine or not? We don't know."
The court ordered Yadav to comply with the deposit direction by Tuesday and listed the matter for Wednesday.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court's stern handling of Rajpal Yadav's non-compliance sends a clear message to all litigants: court orders are not optional, and repeated disregard for judicial directives will invite serious consequences. For legal professionals, the case highlights the importance of strict adherence to , particularly in matters involving . The outcome on Wednesday will determine whether Yadav avoids incarceration or faces the full force of the law.
As the matter awaits further hearing, the legal community will watch closely to see whether the actor finally complies or becomes the subject of and immediate imprisonment. The case serves as a reminder that in the eyes of the law, celebrity status offers no immunity from accountability.
