Court notices Zaheera U-turn

The Supreme Court today asked the Best Bakery case key witness, Zaheera Sheikh, and the Gujarat government to explain whether her latest statement favouring the accused in the case amounted to filing a false affidavit before the apex court and should it be viewed as contempt.

An apex court Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice HK Sema also issued notice to the National Human Rights Commission on an application filed by Teesta Setalvad of the Citizens for Justice and Peace.

Setalvad had filed the application seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the frequent change of statement by Zaheera, who, nearly a month ago, stirred a hornets' nest by accusing the non-government organisation of pressurising her to change her statement from what he had deposed during the trial earlier before a Gujarat court.

Based on her statement accusing the Gujarat police of threatening the accused not to depose the truth before the court holding trial in the riots case, the apex court had ordered transfer of the trial to Mumbai.

The court asked Zaheera and the Gujarat government to file their response before January 3 and posted Setalvad's application for further hearing on January 10.

Appearing for Zaheera, senior advocate PN Lekhi contended that as the trial was going on, the Supreme Court should not pass any order which would have a bearing on the witnesses.

He was supported by senior advocate Nageshwar Rao, who appeared for the accused. Lekhi said Setalvad's application was "full of fiction" and a CBI probe against her would be required to establish the truth.