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New Delhi | September 2025
In a dramatic turn for India’s war against organized crime, the notorious gangster Manpal Badli, long considered Haryana’s most elusive criminal, has finally been flown to India after being tracked down and arrested in Cambodia. Police are calling it one of the boldest wins against the criminal underworld this year, marking the end of a decade-long hunt.
Who Exactly Is Manpal Badli?
Once a young tractor mechanic, Manpal Badli turned to crime in 2000 after his uncle’s murder a twist that set him on a path from petty thug to kingpin. Over the years, he built a ruthless gang across Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan—his name enough to spark fear among businessmen and political rivals alike. Badli was accused of:
- Masterminding contract killings and political assassinations.
- Running extortion rackets that squeezed industrialists and shopkeepers for cash.
- Smuggling illegal weapons to fuel local turf wars.
He even allegedly orchestrated killings while behind bars. No wonder the Haryana Police slapped a ₹7 lakh reward on his head yet, for years, he seemed untouchable.
Outrunning the Law Across Borders
After landing parole in 2018, Badli disappeared traced through multiple countries before finally settling in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using a fake passport. Even in hiding, investigators say he was running his criminal syndicate from afar, using encrypted chats and shadowy money networks.
The chase gained pace when Indian intelligence, Haryana Special Task Force, and Interpol joined forces. Meticulous digital tracking and surveillance finally paid off. Cambodian officers detained Badli in July 2025 after confirming his true identity. Diplomatic efforts kicked in instantly a rare show of international cooperation leading to his formal extradition this week.
What Comes Next?
Nachoed by police teams, Badli landed in Delhi bristling with security, then shifted to a maximum-security jail in Haryana. Authorities say he’ll now face trial for a chilling list of crimes: the infamous 2019 Rohtak triple murder, years of extortion, and several violent shootouts.
Police sources confirm that Badli will be thoroughly interrogated, with the goal of mapping out and dismantling the remnants of his gang still active across northern India.
Why This Is Major
- Law and Order: Experts call Badli’s return a game-changer that is likely to weaken one of Haryana’s most powerful underworld networks and bring measurable peace to areas once plagued by threats and violence.
- A Community Exhales: Shopkeepers and ordinary families in affected districts are finally breathing easier one local summed it up: “We all lived in fear of his calls. Maybe now normal life can resume.”
- Ripple Effects: However, police and gang experts are blunt: removing a kingpin doesn’t always mean instant peace. With Badli in jail, rival gangs may try to grab territory, and authorities are preparing for possible new turf wars.
The Bigger Picture
This arrest stands as proof that India is getting better at hunting fugitives overseas. In recent years, several major gangsters and economic offenders have been brought back from distant corners of the world, thanks to improved coordination with international law agencies.
Parting Thoughts
Manpal Badli’s journey from mechanic to feared underworld boss to a prisoner brought home in chains sends a strong message: There are fewer and fewer hiding spots for those who believe borders make them immune. For the people of Haryana and for Indian law enforcement, this victory feels nothing short of historic.
