AAP MLA Naresh Balyan Gets Bail In Extortion Case, Re-Arrested On MCOCA Charges

Naresh Balyan, the MLA from Uttam Nagar, is accused of collaborating with gangster Kapil Sangwan’s syndicate to coerce property owners into selling their assets at heavily discounted rates.

AAP MLA Naresh Balyan is being produced in the Rouse Avenue Court, in New Delhi, on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Source : PTI

Delhi's Rouse Avenue court granted bail to AAP MLA Naresh Balyan on Wednesday after he was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with an 'extortion case' on November 30, 2024. However, Delhi Police immediately re-arrested him under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), according to news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi: AAP MLA Naresh Balyan has been arrested by Delhi Police in an MCOCA case after he got bail in an extortion case.

He is being taken from Rouse Avenue Court to the Crime Branch office. https://t.co/UfhiXod0eP pic.twitter.com/GaMrx0lSgC

— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024

According to a report by TOI, Naresh Balyan, the MLA from Uttam Nagar, is accused of collaborating with gangster Kapil Sangwan’s syndicate to coerce property owners into selling their assets at heavily discounted rates. The case, originating last year, has raised serious concerns about Balyan's alleged connections with organised crime in Delhi.

According to a police official, an audio clip purportedly featuring a conversation between Balyan and Sangwan, who is reportedly based abroad, surfaced on social media. The discussion allegedly revolved around extorting money from businessmen. Further investigation and interrogation are ongoing, the official added, news agency PTI reported.

As per the TOI report, earlier, the court extended Balyan’s police custody by one day on Tuesday, allowing investigators to question him further. The prosecution argued that Balyan needed to be confronted with two victims who had presented fresh evidence.

One victim claimed that an associate of Balyan had forcibly taken over their property, while another alleged they were intimidated into selling their property at a loss.

Police emphasised that the extension was crucial to uncover the “deep-rooted nexus” between Balyan and Sangwan’s gang and to identify other potential collaborators. Despite these arguments, the court granted bail, stating the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify continued detention.

BJP Alleges Balyan's Role In Extortion Activities

The development followed the BJP's accusations that Naresh Balyan was involved in extortion and its criticism of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for not taking action against him.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) defended Balyan, calling his arrest unlawful. Balyan dismissed the BJP's claims, stating he would file police complaints against those spreading "false allegations" about him.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP and the central government are "trying to harass and conspire against his party leaders" ever since Kejriwal began raising the issue of law and order and rising crime in Delhi. "Balyan has been arrested under this conspiracy and the charges against him are baseless," Singh claimed, PTI reported.

"The BJP leaders have played a fake audio despite the High Court's order against it. Balyan himself complained to the police about multiple threats received by him from the gangster Kapil Sangwan," he claimed. 

The re-arrest under MCOCA represents a significant escalation in the case, with authorities emphasising the need for further investigation to uncover the alleged criminal network tied to the MLA.