Zaheera and her family will file reply tomorrow

Mumbai, Apr 18: Prime witness in Best Bakery case Zaheera Sheikh and her family members will file their replies in special court tomorrow on the show cause notice issued to them for giving false evidence during re-trial here.

Additional Sessions Judge Abhay Thipsay, who presided over re-trial of the case, had issued perjury notices to Zaheera, her mother Sehrunnisa, sister Sairabanu and brother Nasibullah asking why action should not be taken against them for giving false evidence and misleading the court during re-trial of the case.

Judge Thipsay had issued notice u/s 344 CrPC on February 24 while sentencing nine people to life imprisonment and acquitting eight others out of the total of 17, who were re-arrested.

Zaheera and her family membes had to file their replies on March 20, but they could not do so as Zaheera's elder brother Natifullah expired on March 2 following which they were in the mourning.

Again at the last hearing, they could not file their replies, Mr Thipsay said that the court would supply particulars to their counsel Umesh Deshpande on or before April 15, stating the points about the false statement they had made in the court on which they had to replies. Thereafter they would submit their reply on the next date of hearing on April 19.

Zaheera is currently undergoing one year simple imprisonment in civil prison at Byculla after the Supreme court had sentenced her for contempt of court on March eight.

UNI