Indian SC orders Dr Khalil Chishti’s release
Indian Supreme Court says prosecution’s evidence was contradictory and not trustworthy.
NEW DELHI:
The Indian Supreme Court announced its verdict of releasing 80-year-old Pakistani virologist Dr Khalil Chishti in a 1992 murder case on Wednesday, reported Express News.
According to an NDTV report, the court said that Dr Chishti has already spent one year and four months in prison and further custody is not required.
Indian journalist Kunal Shankar told Express News that according to the Supreme Court’s judgement, the prosecution’s evidence was contradictory and was not trustworthy. The evidence did not establish the crime against Dr Chishti, said Shankar.
The court did not find common intent on part of Dr Chishti under the Indian law, he added.
Earlier, the Indian Supreme Court had permitted Dr Chishti to return to Pakistan on “compassionate grounds” but on the condition that he would return to Indian custody on November 1, so it can hear his appeal against conviction in a murder case on November 20.
Dr Chishti was sentenced for killing a man during a brawl in Ajmer in April 1992. He was on a pilgrimage to the shrine of famous Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
After a prolonged trial that has stretched for almost 18 years, Dr Chishti was found guilty in a murder case and was awarded a life sentence on January 31 last year by a sessions court in Ajmer. The time he spent in jail while being tried was not considered to be included in his sentencing.
The Indian Supreme Court announced its verdict of releasing 80-year-old Pakistani virologist Dr Khalil Chishti in a 1992 murder case on Wednesday, reported Express News.
According to an NDTV report, the court said that Dr Chishti has already spent one year and four months in prison and further custody is not required.
Indian journalist Kunal Shankar told Express News that according to the Supreme Court’s judgement, the prosecution’s evidence was contradictory and was not trustworthy. The evidence did not establish the crime against Dr Chishti, said Shankar.
The court did not find common intent on part of Dr Chishti under the Indian law, he added.
Earlier, the Indian Supreme Court had permitted Dr Chishti to return to Pakistan on “compassionate grounds” but on the condition that he would return to Indian custody on November 1, so it can hear his appeal against conviction in a murder case on November 20.
Dr Chishti was sentenced for killing a man during a brawl in Ajmer in April 1992. He was on a pilgrimage to the shrine of famous Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
After a prolonged trial that has stretched for almost 18 years, Dr Chishti was found guilty in a murder case and was awarded a life sentence on January 31 last year by a sessions court in Ajmer. The time he spent in jail while being tried was not considered to be included in his sentencing.