The Supreme Court on Sunday denied bail to Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case, but granted relief to five other accused, saying that they stood on a qualitatively different footing under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

The apex court ruled that incarceration for a long time raises concern under Article 21, but it can not operate as a "trump card" to override statutory restrictions under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA.

The accused who have been granted bail are Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad.

Who are the accused granted bail and what was their role?

Gulfisha Fatima: A resident of Delhi, Fatima is an MBA graduate and the sole woman to remain in extended custody in the case. Fatima was arrested at Jaffrabad police station for murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, and sedition. She was granted bail in that case on May 13, 2020. However, the Special Cell booked her under UAPA in a separate case for her involvement in the anti-CAA protest and its "core group", which discussed protest planning, organising "mashal juloos" and pamphlets dissemination.

The prosecution, according to a report by The Indian Express, claimed that, on February 23, 2020, she, along with other co-accused, mobilised around 300 women from Seelampur and Jafrabad to block the road near Jafrabad Metro Station. She is accused of inciting these women to clash with the police using chilli powder, stones, and sticks.

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Meeran Haider: Haider, a resident of Bihar, was a student of Jamia Millia Islamia and was arrested on April 1, 2020. In the past, he was associated with RJD's youth wing.

His role in the riots case was allegedly fundraising for protest sites and events. He managed "chakka jams" at multiple locations.

The prosecution has accused Haider of receiving funds from several individuals, including protected witnesses, through cash and bank transfers.

Shifa Ur Rehman: Rehman belongs to UP's Meerut but has been living in Delhi since a young age. He completed his graduation from JMI in 1999 and masters in 2001. Arrested on April 26, 2020, Rehman was then serving as the Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia (AAJMI) president.

He was also involved in fundraising along with Haider. The Delhi Police chargesheet accuses him, Haide,r and other co-accused of receiving Rs 1.60 crore between December 1, 2019, and February 26, 2020.

The Special Cell has also accused Rehman of misusing his position in JMI to finance Rs 8.90 lakh for the riots.

Mohd Saleem Khan:  Eldest among the accused, Saleem is in his 50s and is a resident of Delhi's Chand Bagh and used to run a garment export business. A sole earner for the family, he is accused by the prosecution of being one of the main organisers of the Chand Bagh anti-CAA protest site. He was described as the "person of responsibility" in Chandi Bagh.

He is accused of instigating the Muslim community members by falsely claiming that the CAA will strip them of citizenship.

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A CCTV footage of him damaging a camera using a wiper on February 24, 2025, a day after the riot, was presented by the prosecution as key evidence. The Special Cell has argued that he tried to damage the camera to conceal evidence of an assault on cops.

Shadab Ahmed: A Computer Science graduate, Ahmed is a resident of Delhi's Jagatpuri. He belongs to UP's Bijnor and worked at a private firm.

The police also identified him as a "person of responsibility" and a volunteer at the Chandi Bagh protest site.

Apart from managing the stage and organising local campaigns, he played a key role in orchestrating the riots. He organised the protest to lead it to a disruptive chakka jam to paralyse Delhi. He had also incited the members of the Muslim community with inflammatory speeches.