New Delhi, February 10, 2026 – Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav surrendered himself to Tihar Jail on Monday following a long‑running cheque bounce and loan default case, making a heartfelt statement to authorities before being taken into custody. The 58‑year‑old actor, known for comic and character roles, emotionally told officials that he had no money to settle his debts and no clear way out of his financial crisis.
Yadav’s surrender comes after the Delhi High Court rejected his last plea for more time to arrange funds and denied relief that might have postponed his arrest. The court was reportedly unsatisfied with repeated breaches of undertakings given by the actor regarding repayment schedules and ordered him to surrender without further extension.
Before surrendering, the actor expressed his distress in an emotional statement, saying in Hindi that he didn’t have money and was facing this challenge alone, a sentiment that resonated with many across social and news media.
Background: What Led to Rajpal Yadav’s Jail Time?
The legal case traces back to a loan taken in 2010 from Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to finance Yadav’s directorial project Ata Pata Laapata. After the film performed poorly at the box office, Yadav struggled to repay the loan.
As repayment difficulties mounted, Yadav and his wife issued several cheques to the lender. Unfortunately, multiple cheques bounced, triggering criminal proceedings under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act — the law governing dishonoured cheques.
In 2018, a magistrate’s court convicted Rajpal Yadav and sentenced him to six months in jail. This judgment was upheld by the sessions court, but when Yadav appealed to the Delhi High Court, his sentence was temporarily suspended in June 2024 on condition that he show genuine efforts toward settlement with the complainant.
Over the next years, the High Court granted Yadav repeated opportunities and extensions to settle his dues. Partial payments were made such as demand drafts totalling around ₹75 lakh in late 2025, but the bulk of the outstanding amount (estimated to approach ₹9 crore including interest and penalties) remained unpaid.
Due to these continuous defaults and violation of court undertakings, the High Court ultimately lost patience and ordered Yadav to surrender, a directive he finally obeyed in early February 2026.
Source: ToI
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