SC tells Rajpal Yadav to make a good movie, entertain people and rebuild his image

The Supreme Court on Wednesday advised actor Rajpal Yadav to make a good movie and entertain audiences again to rebuild his image, while taking note of the Rs 1.15 crore he has deposited in a long-running series of cheque-bounce cases.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana noted that Yadav had deposited Rs 1.15 crore pursuant to its previous order.

The court was also informed by Yadav's counsel that a prospective buyer had been found for his property and was willing to deposit Rs 85 lakh by demand draft with the Registry by October 12.

The bench said it was not satisfied with Yadav's conduct but was giving him some "breathing time".

Yadav, who was personally present in court, told the bench that he had suffered heavy financial losses from his directorial debut, "Ata Pata Laapata".

"Sir, pranam karta hoon. I have worked on some 200 to 250 films. Over the last 13 years, I have also incurred losses amounting to Rs 200-250 crore. I suffered a loss with Ata Pata Laapata. Rs 17 crore went down the drain... Send me wherever and whenever you wish; I am ready... I could not earn a rupee," he said.

Yadav said a press conference had been held against him and that the film, which was supposed to be released in 1,200 theatres, could not be released in even one.

The CJI then asked the actor whether he had any new movie coming up.

"Koi nayi movie aa rahi hai? Koi achi si movie banake logo ko dobara entertain karo. Aapki image dobara ban jaegi. Humare yahan kuch advocate bhi ache actor hain, unko leke koi movie banao," the CJI said.

The court suggested that Yadav could even cast some lawyers who appear before it and are good actors.

The matter has been posted for hearing next week.

The dispute stems from a 2010 financial agreement under which Yadav received Rs 5 crore from M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd to finance "Ata Pata Laapata", his directorial debut.

The complainant alleged that in 2013, Yadav tendered seven cheques of Rs 1.05 crore each towards settlement of the financial assistance, but the cheques were dishonoured.

According to the complainant, an agreement executed in 2012 stated that Yadav, his wife and their company had agreed to repay around Rs 11 crore, including interest.

The Supreme Court on September 15 had extended Yadav's exemption from surrendering until October 5. On September 8, it had issued notice on his plea and said that, subject to a deposit of Rs 5 crore with the Registry, he would be exempted from surrendering.

On July 10, the Delhi High Court upheld Yadav's conviction in multiple cheque-bounce cases and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment.

The high court had refused to condone an "extraordinary" delay of 1,894 days, or more than five years, in filing petitions challenging the conviction. It also directed Yadav to pay more than Rs 1 crore to the complainant in each of the seven complaints.

The court, however, said around Rs 2 crore already paid by Yadav would be adjusted and kept his sentence in abeyance for two months to allow him to approach the appellate court.

The high court also directed Yadav's wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, to pay a fine of around Rs 5.5 lakh to the complainant in each case. In default of payment, she would undergo simple imprisonment for three months, it said.

The high court's verdict came on revision petitions filed by Yadav and his wife challenging a 2019 sessions court order that had upheld their conviction by a magisterial court in the cheque-bounce cases in April 2018.

The magisterial court had sentenced Yadav to six months' imprisonment, which was subsequently reduced to three months.