Rajpal Yadav gets interim relief, says 'prisoners deserve lifelines' like KBC

Actor Rajpal Yadav walked out of Tihar Jail on Tuesday after the Delhi High Court granted him interim bail in a cheque bounce matter.

The relief came a day earlier, when the High Court suspended his sentence till March 18. The bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma directed the actor to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount. The court also recorded that Rs 1.5 crore has been deposited in the respondent’s bank account while granting interim relief.

Speaking to PTI after his release, Rajpal raised concerns about prison conditions and called for reform. “I have an appeal. In our country, we don’t know the difference between a prisoner and a respectable person. But I have noticed that jails need to be upgraded for today’s time,” he said.

He further added, “There are prisoners who have already been convicted who don’t need to go to court and have been there for 10 years due to a mistake they made. Their behaviour and conduct have been observed over time.” Drawing a comparison, he said, “At least 10% of them, like how we have lifelines on Kaun Banega Crorepati, these prisoners deserve lifelines. If 10% of them are released and rehabilitated, they could be a strength for our country. And if they don’t change, the law spares nobody.”

After stepping out of jail, the actor also thanked the film industry and the public for their support. “I'm about to complete 30 years in Bollywood. Every person in the entire country stood by me, which is why I was able to make 200-250 films. Everyone in this country is a part of my heart...they were with me and are with me,” he said.

Referring to the case, Rajpal stated that it dates back to 2012 and that he has appeared before the High Court whenever required. “The way the entire country, the world, and Bollywood have loved me, if I face any allegations, I'm available to answer. Thank you, High Court, for giving me the opportunity to be heard,” he added.