The Chennai city police may seek Interpol’s assistance in nabbing Shaji Purushothaman.
The scion of Empee Group, who is wanted in a drunken driving case that resulted in the death of a boy, is believed to have gone into hiding in Thailand. If the Interpol issues a red corner notice against Shaji, he could be arrested at any international airport around the world and extradited to India.
According to sources, the city police are expected to request the Tamil Nadu Crime Branch-CID to take up the matter with the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is the nodal agency for Interpol in India.
An investigating officer in the case said the CBI would discuss the case with the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi, which would in turn ask Interpol to issue the notice.“Shaji’s family assured the police of his surrender on Saturday, and then again on Monday. But till Tuesday evening, we did not hear from them. We are left with no option but to seek Interpol’s help in nabbing him,” said the officer.
Sources in Shaji’s legal team however said he might give himself up late on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
With a Lookout Circular (LOC) having been issued, Shaji would be arrested by Immigration authorities and handed over to the police if he landed in any airport in India.
Shaji is now on the run for close to three weeks, after he allegedly drove his luxury sedan in a drunken state and ploughed into people sleeping on a pavement in Egmore, killing one and injuring a few others.
Police have in their possession documents establishing the fact that he escaped from Bangalore to Bangkok via Colombo, two days after the accident.
Three of Shaji’s friends are believed to have travelled with him in the car at the time of the accident.
They have been arrested and sent to prison on charges of abetting rash driving under the influence of alcohol, police sources said.
