The long-drawn legal battle faced by actor Rajpal Yadav took a new turn after the Delhi High Court upheld his conviction in several cheque bounce cases by confirming the sentence imposed by the trial court. All petitions for revision filed by Yadav and other co-accused were dismissed, and he would now undergo a simple imprisonment of three months each in seven cases.
The case of Yadav dates back to the time when he took a loan for his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata, in the year 2010. As per court records, the case progressed from being a loan case to almost Rs. 9 crore due to the interest accrued over time and other liabilities. Several cheques were issued in repayment of the loan but were bounced in the process, leading to prosecution under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
As the High Court declined to intervene against the trial court’s findings, the attention has now shifted to what options remain with the actor from a legal point of view.
Can Rajpal Yadav approach the Supreme Court?
Yes. Legal experts believe that Yadav’s first step can be to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the judgment of the Delhi High Court. Along with the SLP, he can request the apex court for a stay of sentence and interim bail. However, relief isn’t assured as it depends on the Supreme Court’s satisfaction with the legal merits of the SLP.
Can there still be an out-of-court settlement?
Another possibility is to reach a settlement with the complainant. Cheque bounce cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act can often be resolved by way of an amicable settlement. If both parties agree on terms and the court accepts that, it may affect the outcome of the case. Reports have indicated that Yadav had previously made a few partial payments, but no agreement has been reached on a full settlement.
What if there is no relief?
In case the Supreme Court refuses to grant a stay, or there is no settlement, Yadav has to go to jail as per the Delhi High Court’s orders. The judgment on Friday virtually confirms the earlier decision made by the trial court.
For now, it will be interesting to see whether the Bhool Bhulaiyaa actor decides to go to the Supreme Court for relief.
