Cops to leave for Mumbai for Zahira's statement

VADODARA: The city police will go to Mumbai on Tuesday to take statements of Zahira Shaikh and her family members in connection with the alleged threats issued to them for turning hostile in the court during the Best Bakery trial.
Investigations in the threat case have come to a standstill as the police have been unable to record these statements which are vital to the case.
Officials in the city police said that the appointment with human rights activists and the Shaikh family could not be fixed despite repeated attempts.
The city police had registered an offence against BJP MLA Madhu Shrivastav, Congress councillor Chandrakant Shrivastav and others for threatening the Shaikh family. The accused had threatened the family of dire consequences if they testified against those allegedly involved in the carnage. Zahira and others had turned hostile and the accused were pronounced not guilty by a fast-track court here.
Earlier, the NGO that has taken up Zahira''s cause had asked the city police to contact the family around January 2 to get an appointment. Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) R J Pargi, who is conducting the investigations, said that a meeting was arranged on January 9 by the NGO.
"We were asked to confirm the appointment a day before the meeting. However, on this day we were asked to come on Tuesday," said Pargi.