The Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected the third bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the case concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

A Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Dinesh Bhatt dismissed their pleas, holding that it could not dilute or modify the conditions laid down by the Supreme Court regarding when the two accused could seek bail.

The Supreme Court, in its January 5, 2026 order, had directed that Khalid and Imam could seek bail either after the examination of protected witnesses was completed or after the expiry of one year from the order, whichever was earlier. The High Court said it was bound by those directions and could not grant relief in a manner that would effectively alter the Supreme Court's order.

Khalid and Imam are facing prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy behind the riots that broke out in North-East Delhi in February 2020. The violence, which occurred amid protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.

The case was investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell. Activist Khalid Saifi and former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, among others, are also accused in the larger conspiracy case.

Khalid was arrested on September 13, 2020, while Imam was arrested on August 25, 2020. Their latest pleas challenged the trial court's July 4, 2026 decision rejecting their third applications for regular bail. The High Court had listed the matters for hearing on September 30 after the proceedings were adjourned earlier this month.

The Delhi Police opposed the bail pleas, maintaining that the proceedings had been initiated before the stage permitted by the Supreme Court's January order.