The Hindu : National : `Conspiracy hatched by Setalvad'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 23, 2004

National

National

`Conspiracy hatched by Setalvad'

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, DEC. 22. Zahira Sheikh, the prime eye-witness in the Best Bakery case, said she had earlier made allegations against the BJP MLA, Madhu Srivastav at the behest of the social activist, Teesta Setalvad. At a press conference after the deposition, Zahira claimed that the bribery charge was a conspiracy hatched by Ms. Setalvad and Chandrakant Srivastav, a Congress corporator from Baroda. Chandrakant Srivastav had telephoned the police on the night when Best Bakery was set on fire and is related to Madhu Srivastav.

Meanwhile, the Special Public Prosecutor, Manjula Rao, had already questioned Zahira on the matter of accepting a bribe. Ms. Rao asked Zahira if she was promised Rs. 35 lakhs for giving false evidence, of which Rs. 18 lakhs had already allegedly been paid. Zahira said whatever she said in the court was the truth as she had taken an oath to speak only the truth. The Additional Sessions Judge, Abhay Thipsay, then asked her to answer if she had taken the money. To which Zahira said nobody gave anything. Promises were even made by Ms. Setalvad who had said she would repair the bakery and help to rehabilitate her.

Zahira repeated that she had sworn on Allah's name to speak the truth and even after death, one had to face Allah. Once again the judge told her she was not answering the question about the money. She was asked a question whether she had accepted money four times but Zahira evaded a reply. Finally, she asked Ms. Rao who was supposed to have paid her money. Ms. Rao said she would continue her questioning tomorrow.

Reacting to the Tehelka expose, Ms. Rao said she had known some amount was paid to Zahira but the exact sum was not clear. She would have to see the expose before commenting on it, she said. "We had our own Tehelka here with Zahira today admitting in court that she had actually filed a police complaint, something which she had denied yesterday."

Harshad Ponda, Zahira's counsel, declined to comment saying he would have to see the television clip before making a statement.

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