AAP Legislator Naresh Balyan Placed in 1-Day Judicial Custody Related to MCOCA Case

New Delhi, Dec 5 (NationPress) A court in the capital has placed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan in judicial custody for one day related to a serious MCOCA case.

As the arguments presented by the Delhi Police regarding the plea for police remand were inconclusive, the Rouse Avenue Court ordered the MLA representing Delhi’s Uttam Nagar constituency to be held in judicial custody, mandating his production in court on Friday.

Earlier that day, Additional Sessions Judge Vandana Jain rejected the Delhi Police request to place Balyan in 10-day custody for interrogation and instructed the investigating officer to “file a suitable application before the appropriate court.”

The judge informed the public prosecutor that the accused is a sitting MLA and must be presented in a special MP/MLA court.

On Wednesday, the Delhi Police Crime Branch rearrested Balyan under MCOCA mere minutes after he was granted bail in an extortion case.

Following the Rouse Avenue Court approval of his bail application in the extortion matter, the Delhi Police apprehended the AAP leader inside the court premises and transported him to their office.

The preceding day, the Rouse Avenue Court had placed the MLA from Delhi’s Uttam Nagar constituency in police custody until Wednesday, simultaneously asking the Delhi Police to respond to his bail request in the extortion case.

During the hearing, Balyan’s attorney questioned the validity of the arrest, asserting that he was willing to appear before the investigating officer whenever required and would fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Initially, the AAP leader was placed in two days of police custody on Sunday regarding the extortion case. The Delhi Police had contended that Balyan should be held for five days for further questioning.

Balyan was arrested on November 30 after audio recordings were released, allegedly capturing him in discussions with gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu. These recordings supposedly reveal intentions to threaten and extort funds from builders and others in Delhi.

The BJP has labeled Balyan as an “extortionist” and accused AAP leaders of collaborating with gangsters to extort protection fees from traders and builders.

BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that Balyan’s actions were carried out with the complete knowledge and consent of AAP supremo and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Likewise, BJP leader Kailash Gahlot dismissed conspiracy allegations surrounding Balyan’s arrest, asserting that the matter had been “known to senior leaders for the last year.”

Gahlot raised serious concerns regarding the inaction from the upper echelons of AAP, including Kejriwal, despite their awareness of the situation.

“It would be entirely erroneous to label this a conspiracy, as every senior AAP leader has been aware of this for the past year. The crucial question remains why no measures were taken despite senior party officials, including the National Convenor, being informed of such activities. It is troubling that the issue has escalated to this extent,” he remarked.