The man known as Carlos the Jackal has filed a legal complaint in Paris of kidnapping and illegal restraint against the man who arrested him.
Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, was spotted by the then head of the French foreign intelligence agency in Sudan in 1994.
But his lawyer says new details show that Carlos was illegally kidnapped by French authorities on foreign soil.
He is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of three people.
Newspaper interview
Carlos the Jackal, a Venezuelan citizen, made his complaint based on a newspaper interview given by the French intelligence officer in January.
Speaking to Le Figaro newspaper, General Philippe Rondot spoke about his career, including the capture of Carlos the Jackal.
Mr Rondot said he called the President's office and the then Interior Minister Charles Pasqua in Paris to report his success.
Carlos' lawyer, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, said Mr Rondot's role had long been suspected.
"Concretely, this is the first time that Rondot has confirmed that he was among the kidnappers," Associated News agency quoted Ms Coutant-Peyre as saying.
Carlos, 56, gained international notoriety as a mastermind of deadly bombings, assassinations and hostage-takings.
He is serving a life sentence in Paris for the murders of two French agents and an informer.
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