Naresh Balyan, MLA from Uttam Nagar and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, was rearrested shortly after being granted bail in an extortion case by a Delhi court. He was rearrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Balyan was first arrested on November 30, 2024, by the Delhi Police crime branch over an audio clip allegedly involving a conversation between him and a gangster. On Wednesdayt, additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Paras Dalal, granted relief to Balyan on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety of like amount.
The judge clarified that Balyan was arrested on Wednesday in the second case while he was in police custody. He was taken from the court to the crime branch office.
During the hearing, the police urged the additional chief metropolitan magistrate to send the accused to judicial custody, while seeking his fresh arrest in another case lodged under stringent MCOCA.
“We will be arresting Naresh Balyan in a different MCOCA FIR. We will be arresting him right now,” Akhand Pratap Singh, special public prosecutor, submitted before the court of magistrate. While first introduced in Maharashtra in 1999, the applicability of the Act extends to the National Capital Territory.
The Delhi police had got the custody of Balyan for one day on Tuesday. The police claimed that he was non-cooperative during the investigation.
The development came after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that Balyan was involved in extortion and questioned why AAP chief and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has not taken action against him.
The ruling AAP, however, defended Balyan and termed his arrest illegal. The MLA also refuted the BJP's allegations and said he would file police cases against those who "spread lies" about him.
Reacting to Balyan’s arrest, AAP said this arrest is only to silence Arvind Kejriwal who is regularly questioning Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the failed law and order situation in Delhi. Delhi is becoming a den of gangsters and extortionists.
