Shehla case: Zahida & Saqib not first-time offenders, claims CBI

INDORE: Prime accused in RTI activist Shehla Masood murder case - Zahida Parvez and Saqib Danger - were not first-time offender. A few cases were registered against them at local police station of Bhopal before they were made accused in the killing of Masood in August 2011, claimed sub-inspector (SI) of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Zaheer Khan, before the special CBI court on Thursday.
Khan, who appeared before the court as witness, said cases were registered against Zahida for provoking suicide and threatening whereas Saqib was accused in a loot case and was externed from district earlier.
“Both the accused were not first-time offenders, while during investigation they had claimed that no case was registered against them,” said Khan.
Advocate Sunil Srivastava said during cross examination the SI claimed that he got the documents regarding cases from the police station, but failed to explain as to how and when he collected the documents and under whose direction. “There was inconsistency in the statement of the SI,” said Srivastava, adding that next date of hearing is on December 3.
In August 2011, Shehla Masood, was killed in front of her house in Bhopal. Five people, including Zahida Parvez, Saba Farooqui, Saqib Danger, Tabish and Irfan were made accused in the case. All the accused are in jail for last two-and-half-years and Irfan has turned a government approver.