Zaheera fails to appear before Godhra panel

The prime witness in the Best Bakery case, Zaheera Sheikh on Friday failed to turn up for cross-examination before the Godhra Commission, citing fatigue from attending the trial court proceedings in Mumbai.

The Commission, comprising Justice (Retd) G.T. Nanavati and Justice (Retd) K.G Shah, probing the Sabarmati Express fire and the Godhra riots, instead received an application faxed by Zaheera through her advocate Atul Mistry. She said she was ‘‘physically and mentally’’ exhausted from the trial court proceedings in Mumbai and sought another date to appear before the Commission.

The application, signed by both Mistry and Zaheera, also stated that she had returned to Vadodara from Mumbai on February 3 and needed some time to rest before appearing before the judeges.

After going through the application, the Commission announced February 23 as the next date for either Zaheera to be cross-examined or her advocate Mistry to appear and explain their stand in detail.