A Delhi court is currently reviewing the bail bonds submitted by Shifa Ur Rehman and three other individuals who were granted bail by the Supreme Court in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots "larger conspiracy" case. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai has directed the Delhi Police to verify the sureties and documents provided by Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, and Mohd Saleem Khan. The court has requested a verification report, with further proceedings scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
The Supreme Court had previously granted bail to these five individuals on January 5, imposing eleven conditions, including restrictions on attending rallies or public meetings and circulating campaign materials. The accused are required to furnish a personal bond of ₹2 lakh each, along with two local sureties of the same amount, to the satisfaction of the trial court. They are also barred from participating in public gatherings or disseminating posts, handbills, posters, or banners through any platform.
Shadab Ahmed, the fifth accused granted bail, did not appear in court to furnish his bail bonds.
The case originates from FIR 59/2020, concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots. The charges allege that several activists and students planned and coordinated protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which purportedly led to violence in North-East Delhi. The accused face charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code.
The Supreme Court, while granting bail to Fatima, Haider, Rehman, Khan and Ahmad, refused to extend the same relief to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The court stated that there was a prima facie case against Khalid and Imam under the UAPA. The court observed that the five individuals granted bail stood on a different footing compared to Khalid and Imam, in terms of the evidence and prosecution against them.
Shifa Ur Rehman's wife, Nooreen Fatima, expressed her gratitude for the Supreme Court's decision and hoped for the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam soon. She recounted the difficulty of limited phone calls with her husband while he was in jail, cherishing the few minutes they had to speak.
Lawyer Sarim Javed, representing Gulfisha Fatima, hailed the Supreme Court's bail order as a "massive relief" for the accused and their families. He pointed out that the court acknowledged the limited culpability, if any, of the five accused.
Meanwhile, Saleem Malik Munna has filed a regular bail application, marking his third attempt, after the Supreme Court granted bail to others.
