Why is Rajpal Yadav Going To Tihar Jail? Deets Inside

In a major legal blow, Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav surrendered to the Tihar Jail authorities in Delhi at 4:00 PM on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

The surrender followed the Delhi High Court’s firm refusal to extend the deadline for his six-month prison sentence. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma noted that “leniency cannot be extended endlessly,” especially after the actor repeatedly failed to honor court-mandated payment settlements.

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The Case: Cheque Bouncing & Unpaid Loans

The trouble dates back to 2010, when Rajpal Yadav and his wife, Radha, took a loan of ₹5 crore from the company M/s Murali Projects Pvt. Ltd. to finance his directorial debut film, Ata Pata Lapata.

• The Debt: Yadav reportedly agreed to repay ₹8 crore. However, after the film failed at the box office, the cheques issued for the repayment bounced due to insufficient funds.
• The Settlement: Despite multiple legal interventions and a revised settlement of ₹7 crore, seven separate cheques issued by the actor were dishonored, leading to a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

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The Legal Timeline

The case has seen over a decade of litigation, with the courts consistently finding the actor at fault.

Year/Date	Event
April 2018	A magisterial court convicts Rajpal and Radha Yadav, sentencing them to 6 months in prison.
Jan 2019	A sessions court upholds the conviction. The actor challenges this in the High Court.
June 2024	The Delhi High Court stays the sentence temporarily to allow for an amicable settlement.
Oct 2025	Yadav deposits ₹75 lakh, but a massive balance (reportedly ₹9 crore including interest) remains.
Jan 2026	Yadav fails to meet a final deadline to pay ₹2.10 crore by January 19.
Feb 2, 2026	HC slams Yadav’s “deprecated conduct” and orders him to surrender by February 4.
Feb 5, 2026	After a final plea for a 1-week extension is rejected, Rajpal Yadav surrenders at Tihar Jail.

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The High Court’s Stance

The court expressed strong disapproval of the actor’s habit of seeking adjournments while failing to pay. Justice Sharma remarked:

“This Court cannot be expected to show or create special circumstances for any person merely because such a person belongs to a particular background or industry… Law rewards its compliance, not its contempt.”

What Happens Next?

Rajpal Yadav will now serve the six-month imprisonment awarded by the trial court. His legal team may file fresh applications for relief or bail only after he has fully complied with the surrender order.