Delhi Court Deliberates on Police Custody for AAP MLA Naresh Balyan
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New Delhi, Dec 1 (NationPress) A court here on Sunday deliberated on the Delhi Police's request for the custody of arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan concerning an extortion case.
When Balyan was presented before the Rouse Avenue Court, the Delhi Police contended that the MLA should be placed in their 5-day custody for the purpose of interrogation.
Following the arguments presented, the court reserved its decision.
Balyan, who represents Uttam Nagar, was taken into custody on Saturday after audio recordings were made public, allegedly capturing him in discussions with gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu. These recordings seemingly outline plans to intimidate and extort funds from builders and others in Delhi.
During a press conference on Saturday, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia labeled Balyan an "extortionist" and accused AAP leaders of collaborating with gangsters to extract protection money from traders and builders. He claimed Balyan's activities were carried out with the full knowledge and consent of AAP supremo and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
BJP leader Kailash Gahlot on Sunday refuted any conspiracy claims regarding Balyan’s arrest, emphasizing that the issue had been known to senior leaders for the past year.
Gahlot expressed serious concerns about the inaction from AAP's leadership, including Kejriwal, despite their prior knowledge of the matter.
He stated, "It would be completely wrong to label this as a conspiracy as every senior AAP leader has been aware of this for the past year. The critical question is why no measures were taken despite the senior party leaders, including the National Convenor, knowing about such activities. It is alarming that the situation has escalated to this level."
Gahlot criticized AAP's stated principles, asserting, "Initially, AAP emphasized its dedication to three Cs - Character, Corruption, and Crime. However, when senior leaders and MLAs engage in such activities, it contradicts their founding values. The audio clip is not merely a fragment; it is a continuous five-to-six-minute dialogue that is distinctly audible. This is incredibly troubling and shocking."
