Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan, representing Uttam Nagar in Delhi, was arrested once again on Wednesday under provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) just hours after being granted bail in an extortion case. The arrest, which took place in the afternoon, raised further questions regarding the series of allegations against the MLA.
The arrest in the organized crime case was made by the Delhi Police, though sources did not provide specific details about the new charges. Naresh Balyan’s counsel, NC Sharma, stated that they would challenge the arrest, calling it “illegal” and citing that the police were unaware of the FIR (First Information Report). “As per the law, this arrest is totally illegal,” Sharma remarked, as he expressed confidence in contesting the case.
Earlier in the day, Balyan had been granted bail in the extortion case, where he had been remanded in police custody. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Paras Dalal, granted the bail with a personal bond of ₹50,000 and a surety of the same amount. This followed his arrest on Sunday, when he was called to the Crime Branch office in RK Puram for questioning and subsequently arrested.
The extortion case emerged after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Balyan of involvement in extortion activities. Allegations from the BJP prompted the party to question why AAP chief and Delhi’s former chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, had not taken action against him. In response, AAP defended Balyan’s actions, labeling the arrest as “illegal,” while the MLA himself refuted the extortion claims and vowed to file lawsuits against those spreading “false” information.
One of the significant pieces of evidence presented in the extortion case was an audio recording of a conversation allegedly between Balyan and gangster Kapil Sangwan, who is currently abroad. In the conversation, discussions about collecting extortion money from local businessmen were purportedly highlighted, further fueling the controversy.
As legal proceedings continue, Balyan’s arrest under MCOCA and the ongoing charges against him have made this case a subject of intense political and legal scrutiny.
Sources By Agencies