Chandigarh / Gurugram, September 4, 2025 — In a critical victory for law enforcement, Haryana’s Special Task Force (STF) successfully apprehended notorious gangster Mainpal alias Mainpal Badli (aka Dheela/Sonu Kumar) upon his deportation from Cambodia, ending more than six years on the run. The arrest brings to a close a complex transnational manhunt involving multiple agencies.
STF’s Operational Blueprint: Intelligence, Coordination & Diplomacy
- Multi-agency synergy: The operation was powered by close coordination between Haryana STF, CBI, Interpol, MEA, and MHA—highlighting a seamless chain from intelligence gathering to diplomatic engagement.
- Targeted documentation: A Red Notice was issued for Mainpal in November 2024, followed by a provisional arrest request to Cambodia in March 2025. Authorities secured his detention in July 2025 via pressing diplomatic channels.
- Ground operation: A Haryana STF team—led by IPS officer Wasim Akhtar and joined by DSP Madan Singh and SI Sandeep Kumar—traveled to Phnom Penh, took custody of Mainpal, and flew him back to India. He was formally arrested upon arrival at Delhi Airport on September 2, 2025 .
Mainpal’s Criminal Background and Fugitive Life
- Convictions & abscondence: Mainpal had been convicted in three separate cases between 2007 and 2010, receiving life sentences for serious offences including murder, attempted murder, illegal firearms possession, and conspiracy. He absconded while on parole from Hisar Central Jail—granted on July 17, 2018—and failed to return by the scheduled deadline of August 2018.
- Identity scam and escape: He secured an Indian passport under the alias “Sonu Kumar” with a Gurugram address, using it to travel via Kolkata and Bangkok before settling in Siem Reap, Cambodia—a safe haven with a smaller Indian diaspora.
- New life abroad: In Siem Reap, Mainpal successfully masqueraded as a legitimate businessman—establishing a disco and restaurant, earning $10,000–$12,000 per month, and living with his Cambodian wife and three children. Evidence suggests he halted all criminal activity while abroad.
- Legal strategy on return: Authorities have lodged FIRs regarding his fraudulent passport in Gurugram (2019 case) and plan to remand him in over 19 pending cases. Investigation continues into how he managed parole misuse and forged documents.
Haryana STF’s Broader Extradition Successes
- Track record of repatriations: From 2023 to mid‑2025, STF arrested 1,438 criminals—including 232 gangsters—and deported five major fugitives from countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. The agency issued 27 Red Notices and carried out nine provisional overseas arrests as part of its anti‑crime mandate.
- Notable extraditions:
- Rakesh alias Kala Khairampuria brought back from UAE, Armenia, and Thailand.
- Joginder Gyong, a terror-linked gangster, deported from the Philippines.
- Additional convicts traced and repatriated from Armenia and Kazakhstan.
Case Spotlight: Joginder Gyong — Terror Kingpin Deported from the Philippines
Another significant extradition involved Joginder Gyong, a terror group kingpin wanted on conspiracy and murder charges in Haryana. Captured in Bacolod City, Philippines, by the Bureau of Immigration’s Fugitive Search Unit after months of surveillance, he was deported back to India via Bangkok and arrested upon his arrival at Delhi Airport. The operation was carried out in concert with Delhi Police, Haryana Police, Interpol, and central agencies
Quick Comparison: Mainpal vs. Gyong
| Fugitive | Location(s) of Fugitive Life | Modus Operandi | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainpal | Cambodia (Siem Reap) | Fake identity, business cover, family life | Extradited via diplomatic channels; arrested by STF |
| Joginder Gyong | Philippines (Bacolod City) | Alias use, terror group links | Captured by Philippine FSU; deported to India |
