In this paper we introduce the concept of clique disjoint edge sets in graphs. Then, for a graph $G$, we define the invariant $η(G)$ as the maximum size of a clique disjoint edge set in $G$. We show that the regularity of the binomial edge ideal of $G$ is bounded above by $η(G)$. This, in particular, settles a conjecture on the regularity of binomial edge ideals in full generality.