Pak scientist Khalil Chishty gets bail from Supreme Court

New Delhi, Apr 9 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Dr. Khalil Chishty, a Pakistani scientist, who has spent many years at the Ajmer Central Jail in connection with a murder case.

Dr Chishty is 80 now, and is unable to walk unaided. He has to be carried to and from jail by two people.

He is accused of killing a man during a brawl in Ajmer in April 1992. He was visiting the Rajasthan city then to offer prayers at the famous shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty.

In June, 2011, Justice Markandey Katju of the Supreme Court appealed to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to release Chishty on humanitarian grounds.

In an email sent to the Prime Minister Justice Katju said he was making this appeal, not as a judge but as a human being, for the release of Dr. Khalil Chishty, who is old and infirm, under Article 72 of the Constitution.

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. After that, Patil sent a questionnaire to the law department on various issues concerning the case. (ANI)