MUMBAI, 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 to appear despite the proclamations and standing warrants against them. "In the interest of justice, it would be appropriate to proceed with the trial against them in their absence," the judge said. Siddique was shot dead in Bandra in October, 2024. Investigators have alleged that Lonkar and Akhtar played key roles in the conspiracy. Lonkar allegedly claimed responsibility for the murder in a social media post that was later deleted. He is accused of helping recruit the shooters and arrange weapons. Akhtar allegedly coordinated with the gunmen and facilitated their escape. The chargesheet alleges that gangster Anmol Bishnoi orchestrated the conspiracy and directed the accused through digital platforms. These allegations are yet to be established at trial. In a separate order on Wednesday, the court also rejected the bail plea of Rupesh Rajendra Mohol under the stringent provisions of the MCOCA. It held that the prosecution material did not allow it to conclude that Mohol was not guilty of the offences alleged against him. According to the prosecution, he got a pistol and 40 rounds from Harishkumar Kashyap on Lonkar's instructions. The defence disputed the allegations. The judge held that these objections required examination at trial but did not warrant bail. Meanwhile, the prosecution handed the court a confidential report in a sealed envelope on what it has done to secure Anmol Bishnoi's presence, who is lodged in Tihar Jail in Delhi. The court opened and perused the report before directing that it be kept sealed. It had earlier pulled up investigators for not pursuing options like video-conferencing, and asked them to explain the delay....