The Supreme Court has permitted octogenerian Pakistani virologist Mohammad Khalil Chisty to visit his country during the pendency of his appeal against his conviction in a murder case and life imprisonment. It slated the final hearing of the appeal for 20 November.
A bench of Justice P Sathasivam and Justice J Chelameswar permitted Chisty to visit Pakistan, keeping in view his age and the fact that he had been in detention in Ajmer for the past 20 years during trial. As a condition to let him to go to Karachi, his native place, the court directed him to deposit Rs 5 lakh with the apex court registry within two weeks and upon reaching Karachi, to deposit his passport with the Indian consulate there.
The court said that Chisty would return to India on 1 November and fixed 20 November as the date for the final hearing of his appeal, challenging the Rajasthan high court order upholding his conviction and award of life imprisonment.
Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran's plea seeking some kind of assurance from the Pakistani government guaranteeing his presence in India as and when required by the court did not find favour with the court. Parasaran's plea for court asking Chisty to provide two sureties of Rs 10 lakh each from two Indians too was not accepted by the court.
Justice Sathasivam drew the attention of Parasaran to Chisty's affidavit in which he 'assured that he would abide by the condition in pursuance to the permission to visit Pakistan'.
A bench of Justice P Sathasivam and Justice J Chelameswar permitted Chisty to visit Pakistan, keeping in view his age and the fact that he had been in detention in Ajmer for the past 20 years during trial. As a condition to let him to go to Karachi, his native place, the court directed him to deposit Rs 5 lakh with the apex court registry within two weeks and upon reaching Karachi, to deposit his passport with the Indian consulate there.
The court said that Chisty would return to India on 1 November and fixed 20 November as the date for the final hearing of his appeal, challenging the Rajasthan high court order upholding his conviction and award of life imprisonment.
Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran's plea seeking some kind of assurance from the Pakistani government guaranteeing his presence in India as and when required by the court did not find favour with the court. Parasaran's plea for court asking Chisty to provide two sureties of Rs 10 lakh each from two Indians too was not accepted by the court.
Justice Sathasivam drew the attention of Parasaran to Chisty's affidavit in which he 'assured that he would abide by the condition in pursuance to the permission to visit Pakistan'.