Human rights activists had appealed to President Pratibha Patil requesting her to grant the release of Dr Mohammed Khaleel Chisti, who has been on trial in India for the past 19 years on a murder charge. Out on bail till recently, Chisti, an octogenarian, was convicted in January this year and has been in prison since past four months. He had spent 20 days in prison prior to his conviction. Presently unwell, Chisti is lodged in Ajmer's Prison Hospital.
Read the background on the Sunday Guardian.