The Hindu : National : Perjury notice to Zahira: hearing on April 19

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 08, 2006

National

National

Perjury notice to Zahira: hearing on April 19

Staff Reporter

MUMBAI: Zahira Sheikh and her family appeared before the special court here on Friday for the hearing on the notices served regarding perjury charges. However, as they had not received the copy of the judgment, Special Judge Abhay Thipsay adjourned the hearing to April 19. Prime witness in the Best Bakery trial, Zahira is currently undergoing simple imprisonment for giving false evidence during the trial.

Defence counsel told the court that they had not received a copy of the judgment and hence could not file a reply to the notice. The Special Judge directed that the defence be given copies of the judgment. He also said he would apprise them of the different counts on which Zahira needs to submit a reply by April 15.

She surrendered on March 10, 2006, three days after the Supreme Court sentenced her to one-year simple imprisonment for giving false evidence. The Special Judge issued show cause notices to all the family members who turned hostile after the verdict was delivered. Zahira's bank accounts were attached. She is serving the sentence in Mumbai.

Her brother, Nasibullah, her mother, Sehrunissa, and her sister Sahira were present in the court.

The court convicted nine accused of setting fire to the bakery killing 14 persons during the Godhra riots.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail