A sessions court in Ahmedabad on Monday declared former Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Nalin Kotadiya a proclaimed offender in connection with a bitcoin extortion case, The Indian Express reported. The court also issued an arrest warrant against another co-accused Jatin Patel.

Kotadiya, who used to represent Dhari constituency in the Gujarat Assembly, has been absconding ever since his name cropped up in the case of abduction of Surat-based builder Shailesh Bhatt in February and the extortion of bitcoin worth Rs 9.95 crore. The Crime Investigation Department, which is conducting an inquiry into the case, had moved court after Kotadiya failed to turn up despite repeated summons.

Bhatt has accused Amreli police officials of kidnapping him and his business partner Kirit Paladia from Gandhinagar on February 9 and extorting bitcoins in Paladia’s possession, The New Indian Express had earlier reported. It was later reported that the investigation had found that Paladia had planned the kidnapping with the help of policemen, including Amreli Superintendent of Police Jagdish Patel, who has also been arrested. The reports said a team of policemen, led by police inspector Anant Patel, had carried out the abduction.

Last month, the investigators had lodged a First Information Report against Bhatt as well for allegedly abducting two people and extorting over Rs 155 crore worth of crypto-currency and cash from them. Bhatt is also reported to be absconding.