Gulfisha Fatima Walks Free After 6 Years in Tihar Jail: SC Bail in Delhi Riots Case Sparks Emotional Reunion, Celebrations

New Delhi (India) January 8: After almost six years in jail, Gulfisha Fatima emotionally walked out of the gates of Tihar Jail and hugged her family amidst a heavy media presence. This happened shortly after a Delhi court ordered her release in line with the Supreme Court's bail order in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case that resulted in her years- long incarceration.

SC Grants Bail to 5 Activists

Four of the five accused activists who the Supreme Court granted bail to on January 5, 2026, in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case were released from prison on January 7 after they furnished bail bonds of Rs 2 lakh each along with two local sureties. 

Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider and Shifa Ur Rehman were discharged from Tihar jail while Mohd. Saleem Khan left the Mandoli prison. Relatives and friends of the released activists threw a celebration with flowers and sweets in front of the prison complex on Wednesday night. 

Court Distinguishes Fatima's Role in Riots Plot

The Supreme Court in the case of Fatima reemphasized that there was a distinction between the allegations of her involvement and the extent of 'control' that the prosecution had attributed to her.

“The allegation that Gulfisha Fatima mobilised local women and coordinated protest-site logistics, though relevant to the prosecution's case, does not presently disclose that she exercised independent command, resource control, or strategic oversight over multiple protest sites. The prosecution itself asserts that directions were conveyed to her by others higher in the asserted hierarchy. In these circumstances, this court finds that the level of attributed agency and control does not justify continued incarceration once the investigative purpose stands substantially fulfilled,” the court said.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Denied Bail 

The trial court allowed the release orders after the Delhi Police submitted verification reports of the sureties and documents to the court. The court also observed that the accused had complied with all the bail conditions.

While denying relief to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam on Monday, the Supreme Court noted that a prima facie case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act seemed to be established against both.

However, five of the accused were granted bail by the court, citing the laying down of the hierarchy of participation in the alleged conspiracy.

Parity Plea: Salim Malik Seeks Bail Citing Similar Charges

With the release of five of the accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, another accused has moved a new bail petition in a Delhi court arguing that he is facing similar charges as one of them and therefore, he should be given parity. The application was made by Salim Malik, who is one of 11 alleged organisers of the anti, CAA/NRC meeting.

The riots broke out in February 2020 during protests against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in northeast Delhi, claiming 53 lives and leaving over 700 injured.