Ahmedabad, July 07: Gujarat government tonight said it can appeal against the acquittal of the accused in the Best Bakery case. "The case cannot be reopened. Government can appeal (before a higher court)," Minister of State for Home Amit Shah told a television channel when asked if the case could be reopened.
He said the matter was under consideration. On the allegation levelled by Zaheera Sheikh, a key witness in the case who turned hostile, Shah said they could have complained before the court when the trial was on.
"Even now there is no complaint before either the court, or the police or the government," he said and wondered whether she was complaining under pressure. Twelve people were burnt alive when the Best Bakery in Vadodara was torched by a rioting mob on March 1, 2002 during Gujarat bandh call given by VHP to protest Godhra train carnage on February 27.
A trial court in Vadodara acquitted the 21 accused in the case for want of evidence as most of the witnesses had turned hostile. Bureau Report