HC defers Zaheera's hearing

Bombay HC deferred for a week, the hearing of the petition filed by Zaheera Sheikh and her family members.

Bombay High Court on Monday deferred for a week, the hearing of the petition filed by Zaheera Sheikh and her family members, seeking a stay on proceedings initiated by a Sessions Court against them for giving false evidence in the case.

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Justice Dilip Bhosale while deferring the case directed the state to file a reply whether the petition was anfractuous, as part of the prayers could not be granted as they had already reached conclusion in the Sessions Court.

Earlier, the Sessions Court had initiated perjury proceedings against Zaheera and other prime witnesses, for which she was already facing conviction.

Zaheera's lawyer had also submitted a plea in the High Court to remove the adverse remarks passed by the Court against her and her family members in the Best Bakery judgement for giving false evidence.

Sessions Judge Abhay Thipsay, in his judgement, which convicted nine persons for Best Bakery killings, had stated that Zaheera had intentionally lied at the retrial. The judge had reached the same conclusion regarding statements of her mother Sehrunnisa, her sister Sahira and brother Nasibullah. On the basis of this conclusion, he had initiated summary trial against them for giving false evidence.

The petitioner not only demanded that these remarks by the Sessions Judge be removed, but also sought to quash the whole judgement and conviction of nine persons therein.