Monday, July 25 2005 19:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: The Nanavati Commission, probing the Godhra train carnage and its aftermath, today (July 25, 2005) indicated a possibility of a warrant being issued in the name of Zaheera Sheikh, key witness in the Best Bakery case, after she failed appear before it for cross examination.

Taking a stern note of Zaheera's absence, Justice G T Nanavati (retired) said: "We will have to take strict action if this continues. We may have to issue a warrant if she fails to appear."

The two-member Commission also observed that Zaheera has failed to appear before it inspite of repeated summons being issued in her name. The panel fixed August three as the next date for the cross-examination of Zaheera.

Zaheera had last appeared before the Commission on May four when her deposition had remained incomplete after she refused to reply to many questions posed by defence counsel Mukul Sinha, including narrating the events of the carnage on March one, 2002 when a violent crowd had torched the Best Bakery in Vadodara, killing 14 persons including several members of Zaheera's family.

The Commission on June 17 had issued a stern warning asking her to co-operate during her cross examination or face action under Section 177 of IPC (furnishing false evidence).

Talking to mediapersons about the failure of Zaheera to appear before the Commission, Sinha said: "It seems as if Zaheera is trying to escape her cross examination."

When Zaheera had last visited the Commission, she denied of having filed any affidavit on May 2002 before the panel.