Proceedings against Nasibullah stayed

Mumbai, June 30 (UNI) Additional sessions judge Abhay Thipsay today stayed proceedings against Zahira Sheikh's younger brother Nasibullah who has been held guilty of giving false evidence during the retrials in the Best Bakery case here.

Nasibullah has challenged the order against him in the Bombay High Court and the session court proceedings have been stayed pending the High Court's decision.

While holding him guilty of giving false evidence, judge Thipsay had observed that Nasibullah is not a ''habitual'' offender and so, considering his age, the court has decided to send him to a probationary officer instead of sending him to jail.

Judge Thipsay will now decide on sending Nasibullah in the custody of a ''Probationary Officer' after the Bombay High Court gives its decision.

Meanwhile, Judge Thipsay has also extended till July 6 the bail period of Zahira Sheikh's mother Sehrunissa on humanitarian grounds.

While the earlier bail period expired today, the judge extended the period after Nasibullah submitted in the court that his mother was unwell.

On February 24 this year, judge Thipsay had convicted nine persons and acquitted eight others in the Best Bakery case following the retrials here.

Subsequently, the court had also convicted Zahira Sheikh, Sehrunissa and Zahira's sister Sahirabanu and sentenced them to three months imprisonment holding them guilty of perjury.

UNI ST MAZ PA GC1606