Delhi High Court seeks status report from police in AAP MLA Naresh Balyan’s bail plea in MCOCA case

“Two co-accused have just given my reference but I don’t have any case with them at all. Anyone can say anything against me. In none of the cases I’m an accused with them… I understand they have the power to arrest anyone, accuse anyone…He (Balyan) himself has filed complaints against the same gang… not even a single day custody should be given in this case…I’m a sitting MLA, please grant me interim bail. I’m not a criminal… At least, I can come out and participate in the elections,” said senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for Balyan.

Justice Vikas Mahajan issued notice to the prosecution, seeking a status report from the police, and posted the matter next for consideration on January 23.

A Delhi court on January 15 denied bail to Naresh Balyan in the MCOCA case.

Balyan was arrested by the Delhi Police on November 30, 2024, in connection with an extortion case, and was granted bail on December 4, 2024, but was arrested in a separate case lodged under provisions of MCOCA. Balyan, who represents the Uttam Nagar constituency in West Delhi, was arrested hours after the BJP played an audio clip of what it claimed was a conversation allegedly between him and gangster Kapil Sangwan.

The original case is based on a police complaint filed by Gurcharan, a resident of Mohan Garden in West Delhi, alleging he received an extortion call from Kapil Sangwan in July 2023, demanding Rs 1 crore. A police investigation concluded that Sangwan was operating from abroad.

Balyan’s name surfaced later last year after a Hindi news channel aired recordings of a phone call allegedly between the AAP leader and Sangwan. Last year, MCOCA was invoked against Sangwan in connection with a separate extortion case.

The police said Balyan’s name cropped up as an alleged facilitator to settle the extortion demand made by Sangwan to a businessman.