Zaheera Sheikh released from Nashik jail

New Delhi: The prime witness in the Best Bakery case, Zaheera Sheikh, has been released from Nashik Road Central jail.

She was serving a one-year sentence for contempt of court.

Last year, the Supreme Court had sentenced Zaheera to one-year simple imprisonment and had also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on her. However, the fine had been waived keeping her poor financial condition in mind.

The court had pronounced its verdict after accepting the report of the high-powered committee, which had indicted Zaheera as a 'self-condemned liar'.

Income tax authorities had been directed to attach the assets and bank accounts of Zaheera and to initiate proceedings to ascertain her source of income since the year 2000.

Zaheera had turned hostile during the trial of the case and was severly reprimanded for her flip flops.

Chequered Past

June 08, 2006: Saheera Sheikh, sister of Zaheera Sheikh was sentenced to three months imprisonment for giving false evidence in the Best Bakery case.

June 7, 2006: A sessions court found brother and sister of Zaheera guilty of giving false evidence.

May 17, 2006: Zaheera and her family members filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging adverse remarks passed against them by trial Judge Abhay Thipsay and urged a sessions court to stay the suo motu proceedings initiated against them for perjury.

May 16, 2006: The special court convicted Zaheera’s mother Sehrunnisa, and sentenced her to three-month rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 500 under perjury charges.

February 24, 2006: Thipsay convicted nine persons for Best Bakery killings during 2002 Gujarat riots and acquitted eight accused and also observed that Zaheera had intentionally lied in the retrial. The Judge reached the same conclusion regarding the testimonies of Zaheera's mother Sehrunnisa, sister Sahira and brother Nasibullah.

(With inputs from PTI)