India, Oct. 21 -- A Delhi court has declared Siddharth Khera an absconder in the alleged Rs 400 crore Seagull Maritime Agencies Pvt Ltd fraud case and directed the police to book him.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Deepakshi Rana said Khera failed to appear before the court despite the lapse of 30 days of proceedings under Section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure being executed.

In an order dated September 30, the court said, "In these circumstances, accused Siddharth Khera is declared absconder in this case. SHO, PS concerned is directed to register the FIR against the accused."

The development comes a year after the Supreme Court permitted the investigating agency to explore diplomatic channels to seek Khera's deportation. The t...