SC tells Zaheera to name politicians who misled her

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court today told key prosecution witness in Best Bakery case Zaheera Habibullah Sheikh either to name the politicians who misled her and exploited her for political gains or delete the allegations made in her petition seeking waiving of the cost of Rs 50000 imposed on her for contempt of the apex court.

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and H K Sema granted ten days to Zahira to delete the objectionable portion of para 4 of her application seeking the reduction of her one year's imprisonment to the time already undergone.

The court wanted Zahira to disclose the names of the politicians so that appropriate action can be taken against them.

Zahira was the eyewitness in the case in which 14 people were burnt alive during 2002 Gujarat communal riots which were sparked off by the Godhra incident.

The apex court had last week directed that the application would be heard in the open court.

Zaheera has expressed her inability to pay the fine due to her poverty and has also alleged that victims of 1984 anti sikh riots have been paid handsome compensation by the government while nobody is bothered about the victims of Gujarat communal riots which had left over 3000 dead and rendered thousands homeless.

The apex court on March 8,2006 had convicted Zaheera to one year's simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50000 for filing misleading affidavit in the apex court. The court had also ordered the freezing of her bank accounts.

According to Zaheera she was being constantly beaten up in Maharashtra jail where she is undergoing her sentence and had lost her brother and father due to poverty for want of proper treatment and at present her family has no bread earner.

UNI AKS/SC RP ND1938