New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS): A court here Friday initiated proceedings to declare as a proclaimed offender an accused in Syndicate Bank bribery case.

The court order came on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plea seeking the issue of an order to declare alleged middleman Purushottam Lal Totlani as absconding.

CBI Special Judge Swarna Kanta Sharma said: "I am convinced that the accused is concealing himself and the non-bailable warrants (NBW) cannot be executed against him, and therefore, order, issuance of process under section 82 CrPC (proclamation for person absconding)."

The court observed that NBW were earlier issued against him twice in the case and Totlani was evading arrest in the case.

Bhushan Steel Ltd vice-chairman Neeraj Singhal and Syndicate Bank chairman-cum-managing director S.K. Jain with others are accused in the case.

The CBI had arrested Jain Aug 2 for allegedly taking Rs.50 lakh in bribe for raising the credit limit of some companies in violation of banking rules. Singhal was arrested Aug 7.