Tuesday, April 5 2005 17:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The high-powered Committee set up by the Supreme Court to examine the veracity of allegations and counter-allegations made by Best Bakery case key witness Zaheera Sheikh and social activist Teesta Setalvad will begin its probe from tomorrow (Apr 6, 2005), sources said today (Apr 5, 2005).

The Committee headed by Registrar General of the apex court B M Gupta, who co-opted Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Kanwaljit Deol as a member, has given notice to the lawyers of both parties to appear before it tomorrow.

Faced with doubts created by Zaheera not only about her own statements but also about Setalvad's credentials, the Court on January 10 had ordered a high-level probe to find out in four months as to who was telling the truth - Zaheera or Teesta.

Conceding that the situation was "delicate", a Bench comprising Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice H K Sema had directed the Registrar General of the apex Court to take the help of a Inspector General rank official from Delhi Police and conduct a probe about the basis of the statements of Zaheera and the affidavits filed by Teesta in the apex Court.

The Registrar General, after receiving the order, held consultation with Police Commissioner K K Paul and Deol was chosen for the task.

While Zaheera has retracted from her statement time and again, alleging during her last turnaround that she was held captive by Teesta who minted money by selling the Bakery case abroad, the activist-lawyer alleged that the local VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leaders in Vadodara lured her through huge amount of money to change her statement.