Patiala, Dec. 20 -- A local court in Patiala on Saturday declared Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra a proclaimed offender (PO) after he failed to appear in a rape case despite repeated summons, and is currently believed to be hiding in Australia.

Judicial magistrate (first class) Harjot Singh Gill also ordered the start of separate proceedings under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows courts to attach movable and immovable properties of absconding accused persons to compel their appearance.

Pathanmajra, the MLA from Sanaur constituency, has been absconding for over three months since a Zirakpur-based woman lodged a complaint on September 1, accusing him of rape, cheating and crimin...