Padmanathan is a wanted man in both Sri Lanka and India

Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) newspaper said a Sri Lankan delegation was told by Thailand that they did not arrest Kumaran Padmanadan alias KP.

A senior Sri Lankan police team led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Keerthi Gajanayake return to Colombo on Sunday.

Sri Lanka delegation

The head of National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the team left for Bangkok on Tuesday after media reports of the arrest.

	KP is wanted by India in connection of Rajiv Gandhi assassination

Media around the world quoted a Bangkok Post report that Sri Lanka's second most wanted man was arrested in Bangkok, last week.

However, Thai police authorities categorically denied the story.

Head of Thai Interpol, Col. Apichart Suribunya, told BBC Bangkok Bureau that the Thai police have not arrested Kumaran Pathmanadan.

Indian request

There have also been media speculation that Thai authorities were paid by Padmanathan a large sum of money to escape after the arrest.

Padmanathan who runs LTTE's one of the two major international departments is in charge of the rebel movements arms procurements, according to Jane's Intelligence Review.

Both India and Sri Lanka wanted Padmanadan, who is also accused of helping Rajiv Gandhi assassination, extradited to their respected countries.

Thai government has told Indian Foreign Secretary Pranab Mukherjee who visited Bangkok that the suspect was not under their arrest, Indian media reports said.