Gulfisha gets bail in riots case, still in jail under UAPA

Gulfisha’s lawyer Mehmood Pracha had told the court that she “has been falsely and maliciously implicated in the present case without any evidence”.

Delhi High Court

A Delhi court granted bail to student activist Gulfisha Fatima, arrested in a Northeast Delhi riots case, in connection with the death of an 18-year-old man.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat granted bail to Gulfisha on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs 30,000 with one surety of the like amount. The court observed that there was nothing to suggest that witnesses were under threat or that she was a flight risk. However, she will remain at Tihar jail, where she is currently lodged as she is in judicial custody in a UAPA case, being investigated by the Special Cell.

Gulfisha has been in custody in this case since June 3. She is alleged to have participated in and instigated the unlawful assembly which then committed riots in which a man identified as Amaan died.

“There is nothing to suggest that the witnesses are under threat from the concerned applicant. In any case, two public witnesses are protected and their identity has been concealed. The rest are police personnel,” the court said.

When police argued that Gulfisha was also under investigation for the larger conspiracy in the UAPA case, the court said, “We will cross the bridge when we come to it. The present stage is of bail and not acquittal or conviction. Nothing is shown to suggest that the applicant is a flight risk.”

The court also considered the period of the custody of the applicant and the ground of parity as coaccused Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal were also granted bail by the court.

Police had also argued that a coaccused Tafsil has been declared a proclaimed offender. The court said, “The present applicant can’t be refused bail for the act and conduct of Tafsil, who will face consequences under the law.”

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Gulfisha’s lawyer Mehmood Pracha had told the court that she “has been falsely and maliciously implicated in the present case without any evidence”.

“No role has been attributed to the applicant except vague and unsubstantiated allegations which have no nexus with the alleged crime,” Pracha argued.

Rajeev Krishan Sharma, special public prosecutor appearing on behalf of the state, told the court that Gulfisha was seen in video clips “controlling, instigating and provoking local rioters as well as managing non-resident rioters”. “They used code words with their group members to convey secret messages regarding further line of their protest/riot in front of common people. They also gave hate speeches at Jafrabad Metro Station and continuously stayed there till last,” Sharma told the court.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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Delhi riots 2020