Chhota Rajan still in Thailand

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, OCT. 7. In a change of tack, Thai authorities have ``held back'' the Indian underworld boss, Chhota Rajan, officials familiar with the case said from Bangkok today.

Though they did not use the word ``arrested'', the officials maintained that the Thai authorities, after agreeing to let Rajan go to a destination of his choice, had now changed their mind.

It is clear that after saying on Thursday that he was a free man, the arrival of the Mumbai police team seems to have altered their approach.

The exact role and scope of the Mumbai police team is not known. However, if Rajan is to be extradited to India, then a formal request from the Ministry of External Affairs to the Thai Government is required. So far, the officials said, no such request had been received.

The Rajan affair is getting curiouser and curiouser by the day. The repeated reference in New Delhi to the absence of an extradition treaty between Thailand and India is a red herring - if Bangkok is willing to entertain a request for extradition, then why is New Delhi hesitant in making one?

Another aspect is the lack of transparency. Given the possible links Rajan has with Indian intelligence agencies, the near absence of transparency can only lead to greater media speculation.

An AFP report from Bangkok said today that Rajan had not been formally arrested by the Thai police. ``He is waiting to be deported from the country. (The Thai) police have not arrested him because the Indian Embassy up until now have certified that his passport is genuine,'' it quoted an official as saying.

``Only the three policemen from Mumbai are contesting that his passport is a forgery. If they submit a written document to back their allegations we can arrest him, but at this time he is not under arrest,'' the report added.

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