The key witness in the Best Bakery case, Zaheera Sheikh, appeared before the National Human Rights Commission and sought its help in reopening the case.

Why did Zaheera have to lie?

A Baroda court had acquitted all 21 accused in the case citing 'lack of evidence'.

The Commission decided to consult eminent lawyers for their advice.

"Zahira approached the Commission yesterday and made a statement before the full Commission headed by Chairman A S Anand," NHRC sources said in Delhi on Saturday.

Among other things, she stated that under threat to her life and the life of the remaining members of the family, she had taken back her statements in the trial court.

Meanwhile, the full Commission also considered the report given by its team, which visited Vadodra. The team in its interim report, among other things, sought more time to translate and examine the material, which was voluminous in nature and written in Gujarati.

The Commission agreed to the request and directed the report be submitted 'expeditiously', the sources said.

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