The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 North East Delhi riots, registered under the anti-terror law UAPA.

A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Dinesh Bhatt dismissed their appeals against a trial court order, saying it was bound by “judicial discipline” and could not modify the Supreme Court’s January 5, 2026 order in the Gulfisha Fatima case. That order lets the two renew bail pleas only after protected witnesses are examined or one year passes, whichever is earlier.

The court noted the Supreme Court had treated Khalid and Imam as occupying a distinct position from co-accused, describing them as the “ideological drivers” of the alleged conspiracy. Their claim to parity with co-accused granted interim bail was rejected.

This is the third time their bail pleas have been rejected. The trial court had dismissed the applications on July 4, saying it had “no option but to follow” the top court’s order. Charges are yet to be framed in the case.

Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020, and Imam on August 25, 2020. Delhi Police opposed bail, calling the two “masterminds” of the riots.