Chisti lands in controversy over remarks on judiciary

He may have gone home briefly with the Supreme Court's permission but Pakistani virologist Khaleel Chisti has left behind a controversy by his remarks against the judiciary in India.

A petition has been filed in a local court for launching contempt proceedings against Chisti, who returned to Pakistan after spending 20 years in a Rajasthan jail, for reportedly saying "there are illiterates in the Indian judiciary but also intelligent judges".

The petition was filed by advocates Devendra Singh Shekhavt and Prakash Meena in the fast track court.

They alleged that Chisti had said in a television interview that "there are illiterates in the judiciary but also intelligent judges. Intelligent judges reach up to the Supreme Court".

The fast track court will hear the application on May 28.

However as the controversy blew up, he sought to clarify saying he did not mean to be disrespectful.

"I wish to clarify that I did not mean to be disrespectful to the Indian judiciary, I am a law abiding man with utmost respect for judiciary. If my remarks hurt anyone please accept my deepest apology," Chisti, who is facing life sentence in a murder case and was on May 10 permitted by the Supreme Court to visit Pakistan for a temporary stay, had said on Tuesday.

He had also thanked the Indian judiciary and people for their support and said he will return to India as ordered by the Supreme Court.

"I am grateful to the Indian Supreme Court for allowing me to return home for five months and for expediting the special leave petition which is scheduled for hearing on November 20, 2012.

"I look forward to returning as ordered by the Supreme Court of India and having my name exonerated," 82-year-old Chisti had said in an open letter released.

Chisti came to Ajmer in 1992 to visit his ailing mother.

However, he allegedly got himself involved in a brawl in which one of his relatives was killed.

The apex court granted him bail on April 9 and since then he was living with his brother's family in Dargah area in Ajmer.