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Rajan likely to testify in Thai court: PTI

Gangster Chhota Rajan is likely to testify before a local court on Thursday as witness to a gangland attack on him last week that left him seriously wounded even as reports said he was preparing to return to India the same day.

The Bangkok Post newspaper, quoting a police official, said that Rajan must be questioned before the investigation into the attack can be concluded.

"Rajan will be under heavy escort during his court appearance to prevent a repeat attack," the official said.

The Thai police, which want to keep Rajan here, may be unable to do so as the Bombay gangster has not committed any crime in Thailand and has a valid passport.

Rajan has reportedly said that he wants to leave Thailand by his private jet. Reports also said that the Bombay police had asked for handing over of Rajan to them. However, there is no formal extradition treaty between the two countries.

Another daily, the Nation, quoting police sources said that Rajan "is preparing to leave the country in his private plane on Thursday".

Rajan has his private plane ready to fly him out of the country, the daily said.

Rajan, alias Vijay Daman, is being treated at an undisclosed place. He was shot at by members of a rival gang on September 15 at an Indian jeweller's apartment here. The jeweller, Rohit Verma alias Michael D'Souza, was killed his wife Sangeeta Sharma injured in the attack.

Three Pakistanis and a Thai have been arrested for the attack. Four other Pakistanis are on the run.

Media reports said that Rajan allegedly masterminded the 1994 killing here of a rival gang member Piloo Khan, an Indian-born South African passport-holder. Two gunmen who killed Khan were later murdered in Johannesburg, allegedly on Rajan's orders, the reports said.

A police source told the Post that Rajan was likely to be blacklisted and barred from re-entering Thailand once he leaves.

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