Chronology of events in Best Bakery case

Mumbai, Feb 24 (UNI) Following is the choronology of events in the Best Bakery case: March 1, 2002: Best Bakery at Vadodara burnt down by a mob, 14 people killed.

March 2, 2002: Vadodara police registers FIR on Zaheera's complaint, naming accused.

March 21, 2002: Zaheera appears before National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking justice.

May 17, 2003: Zaheera turns hostile in the Vadodara fast track court, saying she can not identity the accused.

June 27, 2003: Additional Sessions Judge H U Mahida of Vadodara fast track court acquits all the 21 accused in the case who were named by Zaheera in her statements before police and the NHRC.

July 7, 2003: Zaheera names BJP MLA Madhu Srivastava for threatening her into retracting her statements. She demands retrial outside Gujarat.

July 11, 2003: Zaheera states before the NHRC that she was forced to retract her statements in the Vadodara court and names those who intimidated her. Secretary of Citizens for Peace and Justice Teesta Setalwad was present.

August 7, 2003: Gujarat government challenges fast track court's acquittal in the Gujarat High Court.

September 29, 2003: Gujarat government challenges the acquittal with an amended appeal.

December 26, 2003: The Gujarat High Court dismisses state government's appeal.

March 12, 2004: The Supreme Court admits Gujarat government's appeal against acquittal.

April 12, 2004: The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Doraiswamy Raju and Justice Arijit Pasayat order retrial of Best Bakery case outside Gujarat, in Maharashtra.

September 22, 2004: Charges framed against 17 accused in Mumbai court by Judge Abhay Thipsay. Four other accused were declared absconding.

October 4, 2004: Trial begins in the special court of Judge Thipsay at Mumbai.

February 24, 2006 : Judge Thipsay convicts nine accused, acquits eight and issues perjury notices to Zaheera and her family members, returnable by March 28.

UNI ST-SA GK AK KN1914