Thai cops ask Interpol to hunt Indian fugitive

"We have already contacted Interpol to help us track the fugitive," Sant said .

"If they can catch him, they should send him to us before we forward him to India."

Rajan was awaiting a hearing in Thailand to decide if he should be extradited to India to face charges of murder and other mob-related crimes.

He was apprehended and placed under guard in hospital after being wounded by gunmen who broke into a Bangkok apartment and killed a friend who was with him.

At dawn on Friday he escaped from a room on the fourth floor of a Bangkok hospital despite a heavy police guard.

Police denied reports Rajan paid a bribe of 25 million baht ($600,000) to be allowed to escape. They say he got away by climbing out of the window and going down a rope.

But police say they have "temporarily sacked" nine non-commissioned officers who were guarding Rajan on the day of his escape, and were setting up a fact-finding team.

"The nine officers were at the Front line of responsibility, so they had to be temporarily sacked," national police Chief Pornsak Durongkavibulya told reporters. He said they would be reinstated if cleared of wrongdoing.

Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said on Tuesday he believed Rajan could afford to bribe his way out, and he urged the police investigation team to probe bank accounts of police generals and their relatives.

"This has damaged the image of the entire national police force and I urge the investigators to make the case clear as soon as possible," he told reporters after meeting Sant.

Indian police say Rajan has nine cases pending against him, mostly for extortion, murder, attempted murder and rioting.

He is also wanted in connection with the killing of a prominent Bombay businessman, Ashraf Patel, in August.

Thai police have blamed the Indian authorities for the delay in deporting Rajan for trial in India. Indian officials in New Delhi said they would continue to pursue Rajan with the help of the Bangkok authorities.