Zahira Sheikh, mother seek time to reply; hearing adjourned to May 9

Mumbai, Apr 27 (UNI) Zahira Sheikh, the prime witness in the Best Bakery case of Gujarat, and her mother Sehrunnisa today sought time from a special court to enable them to go through their false statements-made during the re-trial of Bakery case in Mumbai), which were read out and explained to them by the court.

Zahira, her mother, brother Nasibulla and sister Sahirabanu had been served with perjury notices u/s 344 of CrPC, asking why action should not be taken against them for giving false and misleadling evidences to the court during the re-trial of the Best Bakery case in Mumbai.

After explaining the statements to both Zahira Sheikh and her mother, Additional Sessions Judge Abhay Thipsay adjourned the matter to May nine.

Judge Thipsay has directed Zahira's brother Nasibullah and sister Sahirabanu to remain present tomorrow, so that the court would explain to them on their false statements and the replies they have to give.

The court, at the last hearing on Tuesday, had supplied the particulars regarding their statements to their counsel Umesh Deshpande, when Mr Thipsay had observed that Zahira had tried to suppress the facts relating to the alleged offences and incidents which she was aware of.

Mr Thipsay, in particular, had referred to the fact that she claimed to be unaware that a re-trial of the case had been ordered on her grievances.

Mr Thipsay, while sentencing nine of the total of 21 accused to life imprisonment and acquitting eight others on February 24, had issued perjury notices to Zahira and her family members.

Four accused are still absconding.

Fourteen people died when the Best Bakery at Vadoara was torched by a mob on the night of March 1, 2002. A fast-track court at Varodara had acuqitted all the accused and the Gujarat High Court had upoheld the order of the trial court. However, the Apex court had ordered a re-trial in the case.

Meanwhile, Zahira, who was sentenced to one year imprisonment for the contempt of cout by Supreme Court on March 8, is serving the sentence at the Byculla jail here.

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