Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav Gets Bail in Cheque Bounce Case

Actor Rajpal Yadav, who has given Bollywood several successful comedy films, was released from jail after being granted bail in the long-running cheque bounce case. The case had been haunting him since 2010 and had intensified again in recent days.

The court had ordered him to surrender in Tihar Jail in the first week of February as he was repeatedly violating the court-approved settlement agreement. Last week, a Delhi court had rejected his bail plea, saying he had failed to pay nearly Rs 9 crore.

Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma had ruled that the actor's detention was not a mere formality but was because he had not fulfilled the terms of the settlement agreement he had voluntarily entered into. However, on Monday, February 16, the court granted him bail with certain conditions, giving him temporary relief.

The case dates back to 2010 when the actor and his wife took a loan of around Rs 5 crore for their directorial film Aata Pata Lapata. After the film failed at the box office, the loan could not be repaid and several cheques given to the plaintiff company, Murali Projects Private Limited, bounced. The outstanding amount rose to around Rs 9 crore due to interest and penalties.

The court had taken strict action earlier this month and sent him to jail for non-payment despite a settlement agreement, but he has now been temporarily released on conditional bail.