SC grants bail to Pakistani scientist Dr Chishti

Pakistani virologist Khalil Chishty in connection with a murder case. The octogenarian was lodged at the Ajmer Central Jail for years.

Meanwhile, the apex court has also agreed to hear his plea to return to Karachi and has asked his lawyers to file a separate petition for this.

An apex court bench headed by Justice P. Sathasivam granted bail to the virologist, subject to conditions to be imposed by the trial court.




Senior counsel U.U. Lalit, who appeared for Chisty, told the court that his client could not move out of Ajmer as his visa was limited to the holy city.

Dr Chishty, who is accused of killing a man during a brawl in Ajmer in April 1992, was on a visit to the city then to offer prayers at the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty.

The Karachi virologist was awarded life imprisonment after an 18-year-long trial. Chisty, a heart patient for three decades, is unable to walk unaided and has to be carried to and from the jail by two people.

According to reports, in the lunch meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday, during the latter's one-day India visit, had also dicussed Dr Chishty's case. Pakistani officials have urged India to set Dr Chishty free, the sources added.

Justice Markandeya Katju had in June last year requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to release Dr Chisty on humanitarian grounds.

Acting on Justice Katju's appeal, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved his mercy plea and sent it to Governor Shivraj Patil for final clearance. But Patil sent a questionnaire to the law department on various issues related to the case.

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