India, Oct. 29 -- Two accused in the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique will face trial in absentia after a special MCOCA court declared Shubham Rameshwar Lonkar alias Shubbu and Mohammad Yasin Akhtar proclaimed offenders, observing that they had "absconded to evade trial" and there was no immediate prospect of their arrest.

Special Judge Satyanarayan R Navander directed that the case be listed for a hearing on framing of charges and ordered the appointment of advocates from the Legal Aid Defence Counsel panel to represent the accused pair.

The court noted that proclamations issued against Lonkar and Akhtar on July 20 had been duly published and served, according to reports submitted on August 12. However, both failed t...