The Supreme Court on Thursdaty referred the dispute between actor Rajpal Naurang Yadav and M/s Murli Projects Pvt. Ltd. to mediation, urging the parties to make a genuine effort to reach an amicable settlement.
During the hearing, the Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that ₹2 crore had been deposited in the Registry in compliance with its earlier directions. It urged both sides to adopt a reasonable approach towards resolving the dispute, observing that the amount already secured could facilitate a settlement.
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“Why don’t you now settle the dispute? If you will be reasonable and fair, then ₹2 crore we have secured for you. Those are lying with us,” the Court observed.
Counsel for Rajpal Yadav submitted that he had even sold ancestral property to arrange the money. The Court, however, encouraged the parties to focus on resolving the dispute rather than continuing the litigation.
The parties expressed willingness to explore an amicable settlement through mediation. Rajpal Yadav’s counsel sought a time-bound process, pointing out that the matter had spent around one-and-a-half years before mediators in the High Court without reaching a resolution.
The Court advised the parties to approach mediation with an open mind and indicated that a mediator would be appointed to facilitate the settlement.
Separately, Rajpal Yadav’s counsel sought the release of his passport, submitting that he had an opportunity to travel to Canada for professional work and earn money. The Court agreed to release the passport, subject to conditions governing his foreign travel and return to India.