The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, today declared former J-K additional advocate general Anil Sethi as proclaimed offender in the sex scandal case.

The CJM had issued an arrest warrant against Sethi on June 5 after he did not appear for the test identification parade before the teenaged abuse victim.

The CJM also directed that the order declaring Sethi a proclaimed offender be published in newspapers so that it receives wide publicity.

The order comes a day before the CBI is to present a status report on the investigation before the Division Bench of the J-K High Court which is monitoring the case. The HC had taken suo moto cognisance of the scandal after it was broken by The Indian Express on April 29.

‘‘The CBI was forced to seek the proclamation of the order after Anil Sethi consistently refused to surrender after notice was served on him,’’ Assistant Solicitor General and CBI counsel Shabir A Naik said. ‘‘The CBI waited for long but now the agency’s patience has run out.’’

The CJM’s order, Naik said, would help the CBI take tough action against Sethi. ‘‘There could now be a move to attach his property,’’ he said. ‘‘The publication of the order in newspapers would further squeeze his space. He can now even be held by any civilian and handed over to the CBI. Besides, even the person who gives him shelter is equally culpable and liable to be arrested.’’

The order came after the CBI reportedly failed to catch Sethi despite various raids across Srinagar and Jammu. The agency has already arrested Deputy Inspector General of Police K S Padhi, who surrendered before the agency after the CJM issued a warrant against him.

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