Jessica case: Absconding doc willing to surrender

New Delhi, Sep 4 (UNI) Absconding Doctor J S Bedi, accused of helping Vikas Gill, a key accused in Jessica Lal murder case by giving him false medical certificates, today expressed willingness in the Delhi High Court to surrender before the police.

A senior counsel appearing for Bedi also withdrew from the court the anticipatory bail application moved earlier by the medical practioner.

Bedi's surrender offer brings to an end the hunt launched by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the medical practitioner, at large since the second week of August.

The police conducted several raids in Chandigarh including his clinic and residence, besides other locations to arrest Bedi.

The SIT was going to get Bedi declared a proclaimed offender and attach his property.

It was alleged that Bedi issued to Gill several medical certificates facilitating the accused exemption during the trial court hearing.

Taking advantage of the fake certificates allegedly issued by Bedi, Gill not only obtained exemption from court hearing but also fled the country in October 2004.

Gill's escape to the US and the alleged issuance of fake certificates by Bedi came to light when the SIT took up the probe into the investigations by the local police into the sensational murder of the model-turned bartender Jessica Lall in which all the accused had been acquitted by the trial court.

All nine persons including the prime accused Siddharth Vashisht alias Manu Sharma, son of Haryana Excise Minister Vinod Sharma were accquitted of the murder in February this year by the trial judge S L Bhayana.

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