High Court Upholds Conviction in Cheque Bounce Cases
The Delhi High Court on Friday upheld the conviction of Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav in seven cheque-bounce cases, sentencing him to three months in jail. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma also directed Yadav to pay over Rs 1 crore to the complainant in each of the seven complaints, according to PTI.
Details of the Judgment
Justice Sharma dismissed Yadav's appeals against the trial court's order, confirming his guilt under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for dishonour of cheques. The court noted that the actor had failed to prove his defense and that the complainant had established the liability.
The total compensation amount exceeds Rs 7 crore across all cases. The court granted Yadav four weeks to deposit the amount, failing which he would undergo additional imprisonment.
Background of the Case
The cases stem from loans taken by Yadav from a private financier in 2015-2016. The cheques issued by him were dishonoured due to insufficient funds. The trial court had convicted him in 2022, sentencing him to three months' imprisonment for each case, to run concurrently.
Yadav challenged the conviction in the High Court, arguing that the cheques were not issued for any legally enforceable debt. However, the High Court found no merit in his arguments.
Impact and Next Steps
Yadav's counsel stated that they would challenge the order in the Supreme Court. The actor is currently out on bail. The judgment reinforces the strict liability under cheque-bounce laws in India.
