Thailand denies KP’s detention

Putting to rest speculation about the detention of LTTE leader, who allegedly had a role in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Thailand insisted that nothing of that sort had happened.

Putting to rest speculation about the detention of LTTE leader K Padmanathan, who allegedly had a role in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Thailand on Friday insisted that nothing of that sort had happened, a contention accepted by India.

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Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont said his government had no information about Padmanathan’s detention here as he met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Thai capital. “We have been informed that the person concerned (Padmanathan) is not yet detained... We are informed that he is not in possession of Thai authorities... We are depending on that,” Mukherjee told newsmen when asked about reports of the LTTE leader’s detention here this week.

Padmanathan, who is alleged to have financed the former prime minister’s assassination, was reported to have been detained in Thailand earlier this week. Immediately thereafter, the CBI had asked Thai Interpol to confirm the report.

The issue figured in talks that Mukherjee had with his Thai counterpart Nitya Pibulsonggram here. At a joint press conference after the talks, Mukherjee said Thailand had "good cooperation" with India in criminal matters.

Thai Interpol chief Colonel Apichart Suribynya had said on Wednesday that "according to immigration records for the past two years, there is no record of him (Padmanathan) entering the country."