SC permits Chisti to visit Pak

Scientist told to return to Ajmer by November 1

Pakistani scientist Mohammed Khalil Chisti, a life term convict in a murder case here, can now go back to his country to meet his relatives and friends.

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the plea made by the 82-year-old scientist but as a temporary measure only. He’ll have to return to Ajmer by November 1.

A Bench of Justices P Sathasivam and J Chelameswar directed Chisti to submit his passport in the office of the Indian High Commission in Karachi on his arrival in the native country. “We permit him to visit his native country Pakistan and return back to India by November 1,” the Bench said.

The court said that it was passing order in view of “peculiar” facts of the case as the applicant (Chishti) has been held up here for the past 20 years due to murder charges against him and also that he has been above 80-year of age.

Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran wanted the court to impose a condition like giving sureties by two Indians for his bail.

The court, however, asked Chisti to pay Rs 5 lakh security for his release. The Bench fixed November 20 for hearing his special leave petition in the case.

Chisti had come to Ajmer from Karachi to see his ailing mother in 1992. During his stay,
He got embroiled in a brawl, with neighbours over a property matter,  and, in the ensuing melee, one of his neighbours named Idris Chisti was shot dead.

The Ajmer-born scientist had remained in confines after his arrest in the case. The trial court had on January 31, 2011, held him guilty and awarded life term imprisonment.
The apex court granted him bail on April 9, a day after his case was discussed during Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit here.