Delhi Police arrests AAP MLA Naresh Balyan after BJP levels extortion charges

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Balyan was arrested by the Delhi Police on Nov 30 in connection with a 2023 extortion case after an audio clip clip of a conversation between the Uttam Nagar MLA and gangster Kapil Sangwan was released by the BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, according to media reports.

Delhi BJP chief Virendraa Sachdeva along with BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia had played the alleged audio clip of Balyan and Nandu during a press conference in the national capital.

Sachdeva, while commenting on the arrest said, it was quite evident from the audio that Balyan was indeed running an extortion racket with gangsters.

"This audio is viral on social media in the public domain and according to our information, the police may have detained and questioned them. The investigation agency is doing its job," Sachdeva told news agency ANI.

Balyan was called to the Delhi Police's Crime Branch office in RK Puram for questioning and was later arrested, news agency PTI reported citing officials.

Gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu is currently abroad. Balyan's conversation with him included discussions about ransom collection from business, according to officials.

Further investigation is underway, they added.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has refuted all the allegations, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is agitated by Arvind Kejriwal's questioning of the “deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi.”

"Ever since @ArvindKejriwal ji raised questions on the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi, the Central Government, BJP and Amit Shah have become nervous and are bent on harassing Kejriwal ji and the Aam Aadmi Party MLAs," said Singh in a video posted on X.

"Balyan has been arrested under this conspiracy and the charges against him are baseless," Singh claimed.

He said that Balyan was a victim of extortion calls, and “this attitude of the BJP and Delhi Police will not be able to break our morale.”

Earlier in the day, Balyan had denied the extortion allegations by the BJP, saying that he would lodge police cases against those who "spread lies" about him.

"I am sending notices to all those who have spread the false clip and getting FIRs registered against them. Remember, I am not a Congressman. Those who spread lies should be ready for legal action."