New Delhi: A Delhi court on Sunday sent Aam Aadmi Party’s Uttam Nagar MLA Naresh Balyan to police custody for two days in an extortion case.
Delhi Police in its application claimed that Balyan, who was arrested on Saturday, was non-cooperative during the investigation and his custodial interrogation was required to unearth the conspiracy regarding the involvement of the other persons in the “extortion syndicate”.
The application seeking five days’ custodial interrogation of the accused claimed that his voice sample was needed so that the police could crosscheck it with an alleged audio clip of Balyan talking to a gangster.
AAP has come forward in defense of Balyan, deeming his arrest unlawful and slamming the charges as unfounded. Balyan himself has vehemently denied the allegations, promising to take legal action against those spreading falsehoods about him. The party asserts that the BJP is targeting its members through baseless allegations, seeing this as a tactic to undermine them, especially in light of AAP’s vocal criticism of Delhi’s law and order situation under the current administration.
The situation escalated when the BJP’s IT cell head, Amit Malviya, shared a series of posts on X, attaching audio clips allegedly featuring Balyan communicating with gangsters to extort money from Delhi’s builders and businessmen. Malviya accused the AAP of operating an extortion network in Delhi, directly implicating AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in the scandal.
These clips have sparked a probe to verify their authenticity, adding another layer of intrigue to the case. Following allegations, Naresh Balyan was summoned to the RK Puram Crime Branch office for questioning and subsequently arrested. This development occurred shortly after the BJP called attention to Balyan’s alleged extortion dealings, questioning AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s inaction against him. The arrest marks a significant point of contention, with AAP leaders decrying the move as a politically motivated attempt to discredit their party.
Amidst these allegations, a police official highlighted that an audio clip, believed to be a conversation between Balyan and gangster Kapil Sangwan who is currently abroad, had been circulating on social media. The clip reportedly contains discussions about extorting money from businessmen, prompting further investigation and interrogation into these claims.
This situation is further complicated by AAP MP Sanjay Singh’s statement, which accuses the BJP and the central government of conspiring against AAP leaders. Singh argues that Balyan’s arrest, based on what he claims are baseless charges, is part of a larger scheme to harass the party. He also pointed out that despite a High Court order, BJP leaders went ahead and played the disputed audio, while Balyan had reported receiving multiple threats from Sangwan.
In conclusion, Naresh Balyan’s arrest has ignited a political firestorm, with AAP and BJP trading accusations. While the investigation continues, the authenticity of the audio clips and the truth behind the allegations remain under scrutiny. This case not only highlights the tense political rivalry in Delhi but also raises questions about law enforcement’s role in political matters.
