A sessions court today sentenced Sahira, sister of Zaheera Shaikh, the prime witness in the Best Bakery case, to three months rigorous imprisonment for tendering false evidence. Sahira was fined Rs 500 in addition, but was granted bail of Rs 4,000.

The court however did not award any sentence on Zaheera’s brother Nasibullah who was also found guilty saying it was inclined to put him on probation in view of his young age. Judge Abhay Thipsay said he would decide the quantum of sentence for Nasibullah after receiving reports of the probation officer.

Sahira’s sentence was suspended till July 10 as she has moved the Bombay High Court challenging the Best Bakery judgement. Earlier, the court found Zaheera’s mother guilty on the same charge of perjury and sentenced her to three months RI besides imposing a Rs 500 fine.

The trial of Zaheera on charges of giving false evidence will begin tomorrow.

Zaheera turns veggie

MUMBAI: Zaheera Sheikh, key witness in the Best Bakery case, is learning English and undergoing a computer course in prison. She has also turned vegetarian. This was revealed by her lawyer Umesh Deshpande. Concerned about her future, she was taking the computer course very seriously, he said. When Zaheera was arrested three months ago, jail authorities had complained to the court that she had been demanding non-vegetarian food, which they said was difficult for them to provide. But Zaheera has switched to vegetarian food, her lawyer said.