New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS): The Supreme Court Wednesday set free octogenarian Pakistani virologist Mohammad Khalil Chisty, who had challenged the life imprisonment given to him for a murder in Rajasthan in 1992.

The court of Justices P. Sathasivam and 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.

Pronouncing the judgement, Justice Sathasivam said Chisty was free to return to his country without any restrictions.

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.