The Supreme Court of India Wednesday set free octogenarian Pakistani scientist Mohammad Khalil Chisty, who had challenged the life imprisonment given to him for a murder in Rajasthan in 1992.
Pronouncing the judgement, a bench of two judges of apex court comprising Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the prison sentence of one year and four months that Chisty had already undergone was sufficient to meet the ends of justice.
'Chisty is free to return to his country without any restrictions,' said Justice Sathasivam.
Keeping in view his age and qualification, the court directed the concerned department of the government to ensure "smooth result" of Chisty to Pakistan.
The court also directed its registry to return Rs.5 lakh along with interest approved on it that Chisty had deposited with it following May 10, 2012 order.
The apex court May 10 had granted Chisty permission to visit his home city of Karachi in Pakistan during the pendency of his appeal against his conviction in the murder case. He returned to Ajmer soon after.
He was granted bail by the apex court April 9. He was awarded life imprisonment in 2010 after a trial that lasted 18 years.
Chisty was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a man in a brawl when he went to offer prayers at the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty in Ajmer in April 1992.
--With IANS Inputs--
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