NDTV Correspondent
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 (New Delhi):
Zaheera Sheikh, the key witness in the Best Bakery case, has been sentenced to a year in prison for perjury.
The Supreme Court has also asked her to pay a fine of Rs 50,000. Zaheera faces two years imprisonment if she fails to pay the fine.
A bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice HK Sema said the case was a classic example of witnesses turning hostile.
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While delivering the judgement, the Bench spoke at length about the role of witnesses in a criminal trial.
"The court should not be a tape recording machine but play a participatory role," the Bench observed.
Assets to be attached
However, Zaheera’s counsel says they are planning to appeal for a reduction of the sentence.
Zaheera’s changing testimonies are believed to have weakened the Best Bakery trial and led to the acquittal of many of the accused.
Disapproving Zaheera’s conduct in the case, the court directed Income Tax authorities to attach her assets and bank accounts for three months.
It also asked the authorities to initiate proceedings to ascertain her source of income since year 2000.
The court said the proceedings against Zaheera will be initiated in accordance with law and directed the Vadodara IT Commissioner to take appropriate action.
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