Chhota Rajan timeline

15 September: Chhota Rajan shot in his Bangkok apartment 28 September: Chhota Rajan appears in Bangkok court 29 September: Bombay police say they will travel to Bangkok 5 October: Chhota Rajan free after extradition deadline expires

The head of Thai immigration police, General Hemaraj Theetherai, was quoted as saying that Rajan was arrested after a three-member Bombay police team had confirmed that the passport he used to enter Thailand was fake.

The Bombay team had arrived in Bangkok on Thursday after an apparent delay on the Indian side in deciding whether to seek Rajan's return to India.

Chhota Rajan was injured in a shoot-out on 15 September in a Bangkok suburb reportedly with rival gang members.

He then appeared in court on a visa charge.

He is wanted in Bombay in connection with at least 17 cases of murder.

Wrangling

The Maharashtra state government had announced plans send a team of Bombay police officers to help the Thai authorities last week.

Thai police waited until Thursday

But matters were delayed because of procedural wrangling and red tape in Delhi.

After waiting to hear from the Indian Government for more than two weeks, the Thai authorities said on Thursday that Rajan was free.

It is believed that the Indian Government was not inclined to have Chhota Rajan arrested as that would have given his rival gang leader, Dawood Ibrahim, control over the Bombay underworld.

By contrast, the Maharashtra state authorities were keen to get him back.