New Delhi, May 7 (IANS): Even as the central government Monday resisted Mohammad Khalil Chisty's plea seeking permission to travel to Pakistan, the Supreme Court indicated it may grant relief with certain conditions to the Pakistani virologist who was earlier granted bail in a 20-year-old murder case in India.

An apex court bench headed by Justice P. Sathasivam asked Additional Solicitor General Mohan Prasaran to seek instructions from the home and foreign ministries on the conditions that could be imposed on Chisty to secure his return for his presence before it in proceedings wherein he has challenged his conviction and sentencing in the murder case.

The court also said as a special case, it would expedite Chisty's appeal against the awarding of life imprisonment and hear the matter in October or November.

Chisty was awarded life imprisonment for the death of a person in a brawl when he was visiting Ajmer in April 1992. He was granted bail by the apex court April 9 which had then asked him to make a separate plea for permission to visit Pakistan.