Mahimananda Mishra, 63, and Basanta Kumar Bal, 69, are wanted in eastern Odisha state.

“Mishra is a mafia-style figure, with more than 50 gunmen under his wing,” Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt General Nattorn Prohsunthorn said, as he led a team to arrest the two suspects at the hotel at about 11am.

Mishra brought his family members, along with close henchmen, including Bal, to Thailand on December 20.

They fled from India to Nepal shortly after the blatant murder of Mishra’s business rival on October 26.

Records show their group arrived in Thailand last Tuesday.

Hindustantimes.com has described Mishra as one of Odisha’s richest men. He has reportedly made a fortune by providing labour for loading and unloading cargo – stevedoring – at one of the busiest ports on India’s east coast.

“We are in the process of blacklisting them. We will deport them to India,” Nattorn said.

Their group entered Thailand by calling themselves tourists. However, Mishra and Bal have now confessed that they have been on the run.

Nattorn said his bureau would track down any family members and henchmen not yet arrested.

“We will send them back to India as well,” he said.