The Hindu : Front Page : Jail for Zahira Sheikh

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Thursday, Mar 09, 2006

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Jail for Zahira Sheikh

J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sentenced Zahira Sheikh, key witness in the Best Bakery case, to one-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 for contempt of court by making a false statement on oath and filing false affidavits.

A Bench, comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and H.K. Sema, directed her to pay the fine within two months, failing which she will have to be in prison for one more year. It ordered attachment of her assets, including bank deposits, for three months. The judges directed the income tax authorities to initiate proceedings, requiring her to explain sources of acquisition of assets and expenses met by her from January 1, 2002 till date.

The Bench was passing orders on applications challenging the report of the committee, headed by the Registrar-General of the Court, holding that Zahira was a self-condemned liar and susceptible to influence by others.

The Judges asked the Chief Income Tax commissioner, Vadodara, to initiate the proceedings immediately. The tax authorities can order continuation of attachment in accordance with law, if so advised. "The income tax authorities shall also require BJP MLA Madhu Srivastava and his brother Bhatto Srivastava to explain why the claim, as made in a VCD, of paying money [to Zahira] shall not be further enquired into and if any tangible material comes to surface, appropriate action under the income tax law shall be taken, notwithstanding the findings recorded by the inquiry officer that there is no acceptable material to show that they had paid money."

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