Police allege AAP MLA Naresh Balyan was in touch with gangster Kapil Sangwan. Who is he?

Born in 1991 at Nanda Enclave in Najafgarh, Sangwan has since chalked up 17 criminal cases against him, mostly of extortion and firing, as per his dossier with the police.

Sangwan is back in the news following the arrest of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan. Before his arrest, the BJP had played an audio clip of what it claimed was an alleged conversation between him and Sangwan.

According to the Crime Branch, which had last arrested Sangwan in 2016 in another extortion case lodged at Chhawla police station, the gangster is currently operating from London.

After Sangwan came out on parole in 2016, his brother Jyoti Prakash — who was then out on interim bail in a murder case — threw a “welcome back” party for his brother at a farmhouse in South Delhi, said police. However, before they could reach the venue, the Crime Branch raided the spot and arrested some of their associates. The next day, Prakash surrendered in court after his interim bail period ended, the police added.

However, Sangwan was never to be seen again.

Hailing from Mahendragarh in Haryana, Sangwan had studied at KV Vikapsuri and at KV Jharoda Kalan, said police. He did his graduation in hotel management from Amity University at Manesar.

According to Crime branch officers, Sangwan’s usual style was to make extortion calls to businessmen and then open fire at their residences or offices.

They added that he is an accused in the murder of Haryana politician Nafe Singh Rathee. His name has also cropped up in the murder of BJP leader Surendra Matiala, who was shot dead last year at Bindapur in Delhi.