A judge at the Delhi High Court has stepped back from presiding over a plea filed by former AAP MLA Naresh Balyan seeking bail under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. The plea, challenging the rejection of bail by a Delhi court, was scheduled before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who opted out of the case. The matter will now be presented before a different Bench on April 23.
Balyan, a former Uttam Nagar legislator, was re-arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in December 2024 under MCOCA immediately after being granted relief in an extortion case. Following his bail in the extortion case by the Rouse Avenue Court, he was arrested within the court premises in connection with the organised crime case.
Initially arrested on November 30, 2024, after the surfacing of audio clips allegedly featuring him in conversation with gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu, Balyan is accused of planning to threaten and extort money from individuals in Delhi. The police assert that Balyan is part of a larger criminal syndicate involved in organised crimes like extortion and arms trafficking.
The police have filed a supplementary charge sheet naming four accused, including Balyan, in a structured criminal syndicate engaged in illegal activities for financial gain. Earlier, the Delhi Police opposed Balyan’s bail plea citing the critical stage of the investigation and the potential hindrance his release could pose to the probe.
Despite the police’s stance, Balyan and his supporters claim the case is politically motivated, alleging fabricated charges as part of a broader conspiracy. The case has sparked political reactions, with the BJP labeling Balyan an “extortionist” and insinuating connections between AAP leaders and criminal elements. The BJP further alleges that Balyan’s actions were sanctioned by senior party leadership, a claim refuted by the AAP.
