Justice in Jhajjar recently approved a temporary release for Mainpal Dhilla, a life‑sentence inmate known for 22 criminal cases, including murder. The order, issued on September 24, 2026, allows him to leave the jail’s high‑security wing between 8 am and 8 pm. The court deemed the move justified by Dhilla’s intent to marry, noting the legal framework permits limited custody parole for family events. The decision follows years of scrutiny over his past offenses and a history of flight from custody.
Dhilla had fled to Cambodia in July 2018 after a six‑week parole stint, assuming the alias Sonu Kumar. There he established a small import business, while intelligence agencies monitored his movements. In November 2024, the CBI issued an Interpol Red Notice, leading to his arrest by Cambodian authorities in July 2025 and extradition to India the following September.
The ceremony will take place at a rural farmhouse just outside the jail, with police escorting both parties. Meta Chan, the bride, arrived with three of their four children; the youngest remains in Cambodia. Local witnesses described a muted crowd, the air thick with tension and the smell of incense. A few neighbors reported that the couple had been looking forward to this day for months, despite Dhilla’s controversial past.
Once the wedding rites conclude, Dhilla will be taken back to Jhajjar jail for the remainder of his sentence. The court has ordered a review of his parole conditions following the event. Dhilla’s cellmate, who has known him since 2012, said he hopes the family can find some peace after the ceremony.