Search the Internet           Tips

Thai authorities may set Chhota Rajan free

Rajan would have to be freed if there is no such request within the next 24 hours.

Pol Col Jeeraphat Lapanukrom, who oversees Thai Interpol, told the paper that the Indian government had so far shown no interest in the case.

Rajan, who had been staying in Thailand as Vijay Daman, pleaded guilty to a visa offence and was fined 500 baht. He would be set free on Thursday if the Indian government fails to request his extradition, the paper reported.

At present, he is in a hospital recovering from bullet wounds suffered in an attack by gunmen on September 15.

Pol Col Wissanu Muangpraesri, superintendent of the Thai Immigration Bureau, told the paper that immigration police were very surprised by the Indian government's silence. The Indians are not pursuing the case against Rajan despite the fact that he is wanted in India for many serious crimes.

The police could no longer hold him in Thailand and he will be allowed to leave Thailand once he is freed, he said.

Meanwhile, Rajan's lawyer Sirichai Piyapichetkul said that he would take his client to the Immigration Department on Thursday morning and if they have nothing to hold him on, Rajan would fly out to Vietnam on a private plane, the paper reported.

He said that immigration was trying to delay his client's departure by asking the Indian embassy if his passport was real, if there were any cases pending against him in India and if the Indian authorities wanted him extradited to face prosecution there.

So far, the embassy has only said that the passport is real, the lawyer claimed.

COMPLETE COVERAGE
Attack on Chhota Rajan

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report