Vadodara, Sept 28: Yasminbanu, sister-in-law of key witness Zahira in the Best Bakery case, who had claimed that innocent persons were named in the case, yesterday recorded her statement with the police. Yasminbanu, who had earlier demanded that her name be included in the list of witnesses to `tell the truth', told reporters today that she has informed police about the `non-involvement' of the 21 accused who were arrested by the police. She reiterated her charge that both Zahira and her mother Sehrunissa were `lying' and she is prepared to appear "before any court of CBI or Supreme Court to tell the truth". Yasminbanu, who had undertaken renovation of the bakery, prompting her husband to allege that it was part of a `conspiracy', has started residing in the premises along with her minor daughter Tanvir and mother Rashidabibi in the Hanuman Tekari area in Pratapnagar since Saturday. Twelve persons were burnt alive in the bakery during post-Godhra riots and twenty-one persons were acquitted in the case due to lack of evidence.
The recording of statement assumes significance as the Gujarat government has decided to file an amended plea in the High Court before October 9 following a stricture passed by the Supreme Court asking Chief Minister Narendra Modi to follow the 'rajdharma' or quit the office.
Both the Chief Secretary to the Gujarat government P K Lahiri and DGP K Chakraborthy had appeared before the Supreme Court earlier this month in connection with the case and informed it about filing of an amended plea in the Hight Court.
Bureau report