A Delhi court has declared Siddharth Khera an absconder in the alleged ₹400 crore Seagull Maritime Agencies fraud case.
Why Did the Court Declare Khera an Absconder?
Judicial Magistrate First Class Deepakshi Rana declared Siddharth Khera an absconder after he failed to appear before the court despite the completion of 30 days of proceedings under Section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
In an order dated September 30, the court directed the station house officer of the police station concerned to register an FIR against Khera. The order marks another development in the investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving Seagull Maritime Agencies Private Limited.
The Supreme Court had previously permitted investigators to explore diplomatic channels to secure Khera’s deportation.
What Is the ₹400 Crore Fraud Case About?
The Economic Offences Wing registered an FIR in January 2022 under provisions of the Indian Penal Code concerning cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.
According to the allegations, Siddharth Khera and his father, Ajay Khera, diverted Seagull Maritime’s business and payments to Azure International LLC and another related firm. Siddharth worked as a business development manager at Seagull’s United States branch until June 2021. He is also alleged to have served as a director of Azure International LLC alongside his wife, Shruti Arora. The allegations concerning the diversion of business and funds have not yet been tested at trial.
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What Action Has Been Taken Against His Family?
Ajay Khera, a former executive director of the Central Warehousing Corporation, was arrested on September 22, 2022, and chargesheeted in December that year. The Delhi High Court granted him bail in April 2023.
In February 2025, the High Court rejected anticipatory bail applications filed by Siddharth’s mother, Charu Khera, and brother, Aadhar Khera. The court had also noted in 2023 that Siddharth and his wife were residing in the United States.
What Did the Supreme Court Direct?
In its September 18, 2025 order, the Supreme Court permitted the investigating agency to pursue diplomatic channels to seek Siddharth Khera’s deportation. The court also allowed investigators to obtain additional documents and cooperation from other accused individuals. The latest order declaring Khera an absconder follows those earlier judicial directions.
The420 Insight: The case highlights the difficulties of investigating alleged financial fraud involving overseas business entities and accused individuals residing abroad. The judicial proceedings concern efforts to secure Khera’s appearance, while the underlying allegations remain subject to trial.
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