Make a good movie, entertain people again and rebuild your image, the Supreme Court on Wednesday told actor Rajpal Yadav, as it took note of the Rs 1.15 crore payment made by him 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 pursuant to its last order, Rajpal has submitted Rs 1.15 crore.
The top court was also informed by Rajpal’s counsel that they have found a prospective buyer of his property who is willing to deposit Rs 85 lakh by demand draft in the Registry by October 12.
During the hearing, the apex court remarked that it is not satisfied with Rajpal’s conduct, but it was only giving breathing time to the actor.
Rajpal, who was personally present in the court, submitted that he suffered financial losses over his film Ata Pata Laapata (2012).
"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.
"A press conference was held against me. My film was stalled. It was supposed to be released in 1,200 theatres, yet it couldn't be released in even a single one. The movie couldn't be released in even one theatre," he added.
The CJI then asked, "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 (Is there a new movie coming out? Make a good movie and entertain people again; that will help rebuild your image. We have some lawyers here who are also good actors-why not make a movie featuring them?)" The matter has now been posted for hearing next week.
The legal dispute stems from a 2010 financial agreement where Rajpal received Rs 5 crore from M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd to finance his directorial debut movie, Ata Pata Laapata.
The complainant alleged that in 2013, Rajpal Yadav tendered seven cheques of Rs 1.05 crore each towards settlement of financial assistance of Rs 5 crore to him for a film in 2010. The cheques were dishonoured, the firm further alleged.
According to the complainant, an agreement between the parties in 2012 stated that Rajpal, his wife and their company had agreed to repay around Rs 11 crore, including interest.
The top court, on September 15, had extended his exemption from surrendering till October 5.
On September 8, the top court issued notice on Rajpal’s plea and said that, subject to deposit of Rs 5 crore with the registry of this court, there will be exemption from surrendering.
On July 10, the Delhi High Court upheld the conviction of Rajpal in multiple cheque-bounce cases and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment.
The high court had refused to condone the "extraordinary" delay of 1,894 days, or more than five years, in filing petitions against the conviction and directed Yadav to pay more than Rs 1 crore to the complainant in each of the seven complaints.
It, however, clarified that around Rs 2 crore already paid by the actor shall be adjusted, and kept the sentence in abeyance for two months to give Rajpal time to approach the appellate court against the decision.
The high court also ordered the actor's wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, to pay around Rs 5.5 lakh as a fine to the complainant in each case.
In default of payment of the fine, she shall undergo simple imprisonment for a period of three months, it added.
The high court's verdict came on revision petitions filed by Rajpal and his wife challenging the 2019 decision of a sessions court, which upheld their conviction by a magisterial court in the cheque-bounce cases in April 2018.
The magisterial court had sentenced the actor to six months' imprisonment, which was subsequently reduced to three months.
