Bollywood actor and comedian Rajpal Yadav surrendered at Tihar Jail on Wednesday, February 5, 2026, following directives from the Delhi High Court in a cheque bounce case. The case is linked to a ₹5 crore loan (approximately $600,000 USD) Yadav took to finance his directorial debut, "Ata Pata Laapata".
The Delhi High Court had previously lifted an interim stay on Yadav's sentence, making it clear that he would need to surrender before seeking any further relief. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court stated that judicial leniency could not be extended to those who disregard court orders, emphasizing that compliance, not defiance, is what the law rewards. The court directed Yadav to surrender immediately, adding that any consideration of future relief would only occur based on merit after he was in custody.
During a hearing, Yadav appeared in person and submitted a cheque for ₹25 lakh (approximately $30,000 USD), promising the court that he would pay the remaining balance shortly. He also requested additional time to settle the dues. The court, however, denied his request for any reprieve.
The legal battle dates back to 2010, when Yadav borrowed ₹5 crore from Murli Projects Private Limited for his film. The lending company alleged that Yadav failed to repay the amount within the agreed timeframe, and that multiple cheques issued for repayment were dishonored. This led Murli Projects Private Limited to initiate criminal proceedings based on cheque dishonor. A trial court convicted Yadav and sentenced him to six months' imprisonment. In June 2024, the Delhi High Court temporarily suspended the sentence after Yadav stated he would settle the outstanding amount as part of a compromise.
The Delhi High Court addressed petitions from Yadav and his wife challenging their conviction under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Justice Sharma noted that despite the considerable leniency shown over a long period, Yadav had not paid the settlement amount as he had undertaken to do. The court noted Yadav "repeatedly breached undertakings given before this Court". The court had suspended the trial court's sentence back in June 2024, after Yadav expressed willingness to settle the dispute amicably, and the matter was even referred to mediation. However, the court recorded that no payment was made for almost a year, despite assurances and specific timelines that the Delhi High Court had fixed.
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court refused Rajpal Yadav's final attempt to avoid imprisonment and directed that he must surrender to jail authorities before any further hearing could be granted. The development occurred after Yadav failed to comply with the surrender deadline fixed by the Court, following repeated violations of undertakings regarding payment of settlement amounts to the complainant company.