Full Breakdown
From Parole to Prison: The Flight, Fugitive Life, and Return of Haryana Gangster Mainpal “Dhilla” Badli
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Parole Escape and International Flight
On July 17 2018, Mainpal Badli – “Dhilla” – received a six-week parole from Hisar Central Jail while serving a life term for murder. He was to return by August 29 2018 but vanished. Using a forged passport as Sonu Kumar, he left India via Kolkata Airport on July 7 2019, spent three weeks in Bangkok, then settled in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Background: Criminal Record and Parole Conditions
Badli hails from Badli village, Jhajjar district, Haryana. Police records list 22–24 criminal cases including murder, robbery and assault on police; three convictions date to 2007-2010. After his disappearance, Haryana invoked Sections 8 and 9 of the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners Act and announced a Rs 5 lakh reward for information.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 17 2018 | Parole granted; return by Aug 29. |
| July 7 2019 | Departed Kolkata for Bangkok, then Cambodia. |
| Nov 6 2024 | Interpol Red Notice issued. |
| Mar 26 2025 | Provisional arrest request sent to Cambodia. |
| July 24 2025 | NCB-Phnom Penh notified India of arrest; extradition sought. |
| Sept 2025 | Extradited, arrested in Delhi; later given 12-hour custody parole to marry. |
Data & Statistics
- Criminal cases: 22 (one report) vs. 24 (another).
- Children in Cambodia: Bahubali, Bhagat Kumar, Aastha.
- Business assets: disco “Kontiai” and restaurant “Angkor.”
Official Statements & Responses
- Jhajjar Sadar SHO Dharmendra (PTI): Badli was escorted from prison to a Jhajjar farmhouse for the wedding and returned to custody immediately after.
- CBI: Extradition coordinated with state police and the Union Ministries of Home and External Affairs.
- Interpol: Issued the Red Notice and provisional arrest request, enabling Cambodian detention.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Case count: Some filings cite 24 cases, others 22 with three convictions; the discrepancy remains unresolved.
- Partner’s name: NDTV uses Chen Meta, IndiaTimes records Meta Chan—both refer to the same person.
The case shows how a convicted gangster used forged documents to flee, built a family and business abroad, and was eventually returned through coordinated international law-enforcement action, culminating in a brief, court-ordered parole for marriage before resuming his sentence.