Sehrunnisa Sheikh, mother of prime witness in the Best Bakery case, Zaheera Sheikh, was on Thursday held guilty of contempt of court by the special court conducting the retrial in Mumbai.

The court fined her Rs 100 after reading her reply to a show cause notice issued to her earlier in the day.

She will have to undergo three days' imprisonment if she fails to pay the fine.

Sehrunnisa was taken into custody after the trial court initiated contempt proceedings against her for her defiant attitude during her deposition as a witness.

When Sehrunnisa was tendering evidence, she frequently looked at Raes Khan, a nongovernmental organisation activist who was sitting in the court. The judge told her to address the court and not to look at others. But she continued to look at Raes.

Sehrunnisa said Raes was gesturing at her and that is why she was looking at him. The judge warned her that she could be held for contempt to which Sehrunnisa replied, "Please take action against me."