A lawyer who allegedly played the prime role in the murder of a Chennai-based doctor surrendered before a city court on Monday. After he failed to appear during the hearing despite the Supreme Court rejecting his bail plea, the special public prosecutor had sought the court to declare him as a proclaimed offender.

Dr Subbiah

Chennai:

Advocate B Williams, the prime suspect in the murder of Dr SD Subbiah, surrendered before the Seventh Additional Sessions Court in Chennai on Monday. Later, he was remanded in judicial custody and lodged in Puzhal prison.

Dr Subbiah, a neurologist, was brutally attacked with sharp weapons near Billroth Hospital in Raja Annamalaipuram. The assailants had come with machetes packed in their backpack and attacked the him as he was walking towards his parked car. He died of multiple injuries on September 23, 2013.

After completing their investigation, the Abiramapuram police filed the charge sheet against 10 accused, including Williams, before the XXIII Metropolitan Magistrate in Saidapet. But Williams and a few other accused persons were granted bail by the Madras High Court on February 2, 2015. 

But when the Abiramapuram police approached the Madras High Court charging the lawyer of intimidating witnesses, Justice RMT Teekaa Raman cancelled the bail granted to Williams, on April 28. But the court restricted police personnel from apprehending him so that he could appeal before the Supreme Court. However, the apex court rejected his bail plea on May 28.

As Williams failed to appear for the subsequent hearing before the Seventh Sessions Court on June 8, judge Shanthi issued a non-bailable warrant against him, who remained absconding along with his family.

Dr Subbiah’s murder took place in full view of public at Raja Annamalaipuram. It is alleged that Williams had engaged the henchmen to eliminate the doctor to help his junior lawyer Basil from Nagercoil. 

Police had arrested Dr James Satish Kumar and henchmen Murugan, Selva Prakash and Iyyappan on January 29. Earlier, police arrested a former school teacher Ponnusamy, his wife P Mary Pushpam, and sons, P Basil, a lawyer, and P Boris. 

Basil and his family allegedly wanted to eliminate Subbiah, their relative, owing to a dispute over property worth over Rs 12 crore in Anjugramam in Kanniyakumari. Police have also arrested William’s close aide Jesuraj, a kabaddi player, for harbouring William.