New Delhi: Four activists, now well-known across the country, incarcerated under the draconian Unlawful Practices (Prevention) Act, 1967, following multiple FIRs lodged by the Delhi police in 2020 (February riots “conspiracy” case) were released last evening following a Supreme Court order on Monday, January 5. Joy, flowers, songs of welcome greeted them as they were seen coming out of prison. Social media was flooded with videos and photos of their release. Photos and videos of f Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haidar, Mohammad Saleem Khan, and Shifa Ur Rehman, walking out to friends and family amidst tears and hugs were shared widely. Tagged to this release was the simple #Azaadi (Freedom).
While the Supreme Court granted them and activist Shadab Ahmed bail in a controversial order in which it withheld bail from fellow activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
Videos were uploaded later by news agencies and outlets but first by their well-wishers who shot busy clips of relatives and friends meeting to celebrate the activists’ freedom after years.
This charming second video recorded an exorbitant Gulfisha greeting supporter as she was shepherded home. “Gulfisha: God is Really Great, I am a Powerful Woman!” She said!
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🙏 Shifa ur Rehman walks free from Tihar Jail after Supreme Court grants bail. His family n friends welcomed him with open arms outside the Tihar Jail.
– A moment of relief and hope for better days ahead. pic.twitter.com/mdl2j7dmDx— زماں (@Delhiite_) January 7, 2026
VIDEO | Delhi: Accused, Shifa Ur Rehman, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy’ case, walks out of Tihar Jail.
The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to five accused, saying all the accused do not stand on the same… pic.twitter.com/DMXwWhpJPt
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 7, 2026
VIDEO | Delhi: Mohd. Saleem Khan, one of the accused who got bail in Delhi riots case, reaches his home.
The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Mohd. Saleem Khan and four others, saying that all the accused do not stand on the same footing.
Observing that reasonable… pic.twitter.com/4v9gN3D5uY— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 7, 2026
The following clip of Meeran Haider walking free was uploaded by an organisation identifying itself as IP News.
🙏 Meeran Haider walks free from Tihar Jail after Supreme Court grants bail.
– After years of waiting, he steps out to begin a new chapter. May better days lie ahead. pic.twitter.com/v5h9hlJ5ZH— زماں (@Delhiite_) January 7, 2026
VIDEO | Delhi: Three accused – Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa Ur Rehman, and Meeran Haider, who were granted bail by the Supreme Court in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy’ case, walk out of Tihar Jail. The court, on Monday, described the grant of bail as a “calibrated… pic.twitter.com/YVioDOOu7D
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 7, 2026
Related:
JNU Teacher to her Jailed Students: ‘Be with us again, in freedom, Sharjeel and Umar’
Gulfisha Fatima: A saga of arrest and re-arrest