In a major boost to India’s fight against crime, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), along with Haryana Police, successfully brought back a wanted criminal from Cambodia on September 2, 2025. This operation involved cooperation with several agencies, including the Ministry of External Affairs and Home Affairs, as part of India’s efforts to track down and extradite criminals hiding abroad.
The accused, Mainpal Dhilla, also known as Sonu Kumar or Mainpal Badli, is a infamous criminal wanted by Haryana Police. He has a criminal record that includes murder, attempt to murder, illegal firearms use, and criminal conspiracy. In 2013, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for a case registered in 2007 at the Sadar Bahadurgarh police station.
Mainpal Dhilla was also convicted in two other cases in the past. While he was in jail, he was released on a six-week parole from Hisar Central Jail in July 2028. However, he did not return to jail after the parole period, missing his scheduled return date of August 29, 2018. Since then, he was declared absconding.
The CBI took swift action after issuing a Red Notice through INTERPOL on November 11, 2024. This international alert helped authorities track down his movement. NCB Bangkok provided crucial information, revealing that Mainpal Dhilla traveled from Thailand to Cambodia using a fake passport under the alias Sonu Kumar.
To catch him, Indian authorities coordinated with Cambodian officials and requested his arrest through INTERPOL channels. Cambodia confirmed his presence and agreed to hand him over to India. The operation culminated in a joint team of Haryana Police traveling to Cambodia and successfully bringing him back to India on September 2, 2025.
This operation highlights India’s growing strength in fighting organized crime across borders. INTERPOL’s Red Notices are a vital tool in this effort, helping law enforcement agencies worldwide track and capture wanted criminals. Over the last few years, India has successfully returned more than 100 criminals from abroad through coordinated efforts with INTERPOL.
As the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL in India, the CBI continues to work closely with all law enforcement agencies to ensure justice is served and criminals do not escape the reach of Indian law.
