Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn turned himself in to police to answer charges of money laundering, just hours after investigators got a warrant for his arrest on Tuesday.

Pol Gen Surachate arrived at the Tao Poon police station in Bangkok at about 5.30pm.

He was later released on bail and declined to speak to reporters as he left the station at 8pm, saying only that he is innocent.

His appearance came after a day of drama in which police obtained an arrest warrant for the deputy national police chief after he had declined to answer three summonses.

Pol Gen Surachate, known as Big Joke, is currently serving in an inactive post on the orders of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who also had national police chief Torsak Sukvimol sidelined.

Both senior officers have been engaged in a long-running feud, with public accusations flying back and forth about involvement with illegal gambling networks.

On March 12, the court had approved warrants for the arrest of three police officers and a civilian for suspected involvement in money laundering in connection with the BNK Master gambling website.

On the same day, the court also approved a summons for Pol Gen Surachate.

Investigators later issued three separate summonses for the deputy national police chief to report for questioning but were unable to physically deliver them to him. They went to the court on Tuesday to seek an arrest warrant.