The Supreme Court has appointed Justice Najmi Waziri, a former judge of the Delhi High Court, as the sole mediator in a cheque dishonour case involving actor Rajpal Yadav. This decision follows a dispute stemming from a financial agreement made in 2010, where Yadav received Rs 5 crore from M/s Murli Projects Pvt Ltd to fund his directorial debut, ‘Ata Pata Laapata’. The complainant alleges that seven cheques issued by Yadav as part of a settlement were dishonoured.

In 2013, Yadav reportedly issued seven cheques, each valued at Rs 1.05 crore, to settle the financial assistance provided for the film. A prior agreement established in 2012 indicated that Yadav, along with his wife and their company, had committed to repaying approximately Rs 11 crore, inclusive of interest.

Supreme Court Proceedings

During the recent hearing, the Supreme Court acknowledged that Yadav had deposited Rs 2 crore with its registry. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, expressed that the matter could potentially be resolved amicably through mediation. The court’s order, issued on October 15, appointed Justice Waziri as the mediator to facilitate discussions between the parties involved.

The court instructed the parties to reach out to the mediator to arrange a date for their appearance, which could be conducted either in person or online. Additionally, it was noted that the mediator would determine his fee in consultation with the involved parties.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court directed the trial court to release Yadav’s passport, enabling him to pursue his professional commitments. However, this was subject to conditions set by the trial court, which required Yadav to inform the court upon his return from any international travel.

Previous Court Rulings

Yadav’s counsel informed the court that the actor had complied with previous directives by depositing Rs 2 crore. The counsel also requested that the court consider Yadav’s plea challenging his conviction and three-month sentence in seven cheque dishonour cases. On September 15, the Supreme Court had extended Yadav’s exemption from surrendering until October 5, following a notice issued on September 8 regarding his plea.

In a ruling on July 10, the Delhi High Court upheld Yadav’s conviction in several cheque dishonour cases and imposed a three-month prison sentence. The court dismissed the argument regarding a delay of 1,894 days in filing petitions against the conviction. It mandated Yadav to pay over Rs 1 crore to the complainant in each of the seven cases, noting that the Rs 2 crore already paid would be adjusted against this amount.

The High Court also ordered Yadav’s wife, Radha Rajpal Yadav, to pay a fine of approximately Rs 5.5 lakh in each case, with a stipulated three-month simple imprisonment if she failed to comply. This verdict stemmed from petitions filed by Yadav and his wife, challenging a 2019 sessions court decision that upheld their earlier convictions.

As the mediation process led by Justice Waziri commences, the Supreme Court has indicated it will revisit the case upon receiving the mediator’s report.

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