Supreme Court deadline for Rajpal Yadav: Lawyer says ‘doing drama’ in cheque case

Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav is once again in the news, and this time it is not for a movie. On September 15, 2026, the Supreme Court gave him a final two-week deadline in his long-running cheque bounce case. The court also made a sharp comment about his behaviour, saying he is "perfect at doing drama." Now, Yadav's lawyer has responded to this remark inside the courtroom, and it has quickly become one of the most talked-about legal stories in Bollywood this week.

Here is everything you need to know about the case, the court's warning, and what the actor's legal team has said in reply.

What Happened In The Supreme Court Hearing

A special bench of the Supreme Court heard Rajpal Yadav's case on Tuesday. The bench included Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana.

During the hearing, the judges were not happy. They pointed out that Yadav had not followed the court's earlier orders. The Chief Justice did not hold back his words. He said, "Looking at his past conduct, how can anybody trust him? He is perfect in doing drama and acting in Bollywood, he is doing the same thing in court also."

Even after this sharp comment, the court decided to give the actor one more chance. The Supreme Court ordered Rajpal Yadav to deposit Rs 2 crore with the court registry within two weeks. His exemption from surrendering has also been extended until October 5, 2026, which is the date of the next hearing. As part of the order, the actor has also been asked to surrender his passport.

Rajpal Yadav's Lawyer Reacts To The 'Doing Drama' Remark

Right after the Chief Justice's comment, senior advocate P S Patwalia, who is representing Rajpal Yadav, stepped in to respond on his client's behalf. Instead of arguing back, the lawyer chose to reassure the court. He told the bench that Yadav would deposit Rs 2 crore within the given two weeks and would also arrange a surety for the rest of the amount owed.

Patwalia also reminded the court of what his client has already been through. He said Yadav had already spent about four and a half months in prison because of this case. He added that people from the film industry, Yadav's friends and colleagues, are expected to help him arrange the money needed to clear his dues.

The lawyer's calm and cooperative response seemed to work in the actor's favour, at least for now. The bench agreed to give Yadav this final window, even though the judges made it clear they were not fully convinced by his past behaviour.

Why Is Rajpal Yadav In This Cheque Bounce Case?

To understand why this case has dragged on for years, we need to go back to 2010. Rajpal Yadav took Rs 5 crore in financial help from a company called Murali Projects Pvt Ltd. This money was meant to fund a film. That film was Ata Pata Laapata, which Yadav also directed. Unfortunately, the movie did not do well at the box office.

In 2013, as part of a settlement, Yadav gave the company seven cheques worth Rs 1.05 crore each. All seven cheques bounced. According to Murali Projects, a 2012 agreement said that Yadav, his wife Radha Rajpal Yadav, and their company together owed around Rs 11 crore, including interest.

The legal fight that followed has been long and tiring for both sides:

• In April 2018, a magisterial court convicted Yadav and sentenced him to six months in jail.
• In 2019, a sessions court reduced the sentence to three months but kept the conviction.
• On July 10, 2026, the Delhi High Court also upheld the conviction in seven separate cheque bounce cases and ordered three months of imprisonment. The court also directed Yadav's wife to pay around Rs 5.5 lakh in each case.
• On September 8, 2026, the Supreme Court stepped in and gave Yadav protection from surrendering, but only if he deposited Rs 5 crore with the court registry.

This latest hearing on September 15 is the newest chapter in a case that has now stretched on for more than a decade.

#WATCH | Delhi | Counsel for Rajpal Yadav, Advocate Bhaskar Upadhyay, says, "We welcome this order... The Court has graciously given us time to deposit this amount. Initially, it was Rs 5 crores. Now the Court has reduced it to Rs 2 crores. It's a great relief for us, and we will… pic.twitter.com/KQqvsTj7Px

— ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2026

What Happens Next For Rajpal Yadav

All eyes are now on October 5, 2026, the date of the next hearing. By then, Rajpal Yadav needs to deposit the Rs 2 crore he promised and present a clear, workable plan to pay off the rest of the dues.

If he fails to follow through this time, the Supreme Court has made it clear that his excuses will not be entertained again. For now, though, the actor gets one more shot to prove that his word can be trusted.