Rajpal Yadav case: Who is Madhav Gopal Agrawal, the man who begged and cried in front of Hera Pheri actor to repay his money

Actor Rajpal Yadav walked out of Tihar Jail on Tuesday evening after the Delhi High Court permitted his temporary release from jail in cheque bounce cases.

After all formalities were completed, Rajpal Yadav walked out of Tihar jail around 4.50 pm, a source said. He was granted relief after submitting Rs 1.5 crore to the complainant. The long-running legal dispute between Rajpal Yadav and businessman Madhav Gopal Agrawal has returned to the spotlight after the actor’s release from Tihar Jail.

Who is Madhav Gopal Agrawal?

Businessman Madhav Gopal Agrawal, who had loaned ₹5 crore to actor Rajpal Yadav for his 2012 directorial venture Ata Pata Laapata, has spoken about the long-running legal battle and how the dispute unfolded over the past 14 years.


In an interview with News Pinch, Agrawal said he first met the actor during the early phase of the conflict and even “cried like a child” in front of him, explaining that the money he had lent was itself borrowed from others. He recalled repeatedly asking Rajpal to give a clear repayment timeline so that a fresh agreement could be drafted.

Agrawal, who represents M/s Murali Projects Pvt Ltd, said he was introduced to Rajpal by MP Mithilesh Kumar Katheria. According to him, the actor had insisted that the film was almost complete and warned that without immediate funds, “everything would go to waste”. Initially reluctant, Agrawal said he agreed to the loan after Rajpal’s wife, Radha, sent emotional messages seeking help.

He stressed that the agreement clearly stated the repayment would not depend on the film’s box office performance, censor certification, or any other hurdles, and that the actor had provided a personal guarantee. Agrawal maintained the deal was strictly a loan and not an investment, noting that investments typically do not involve personal guarantees or post-dated cheques.

When deadlines passed without repayment, Agrawal contacted Rajpal, who allegedly told him he did not have the funds. This led to three supplementary agreements and fresh cheques being issued.

He further said that when megastar Amitabh Bachchan attended the film’s music launch, he realised that, as per the agreement, the negatives and payment were to be handed over after the film’s completion. He then approached the court seeking a stay on its release. Later, Rajpal reportedly assured him that the payment would be made after the film’s theatrical run. Trusting this, Agrawal agreed to a settlement and had the stay lifted, but the film failed at the box office.

By 2013, with no progress, Agrawal moved the court again. Following judicial intervention, a settlement amount of ₹10.40 crore was finalised. However, he claimed that the cheques issued toward repayment were dishonoured, further prolonging the legal battle.

Concluding, Agrawal said his only aim as a businessman is to recover his money.