A Delhi court rejected the bail plea of former AAP MLA Naresh Balyan in a case filed under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed the bail application of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan in a serious case registered under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). This is the second time that Balyan’s bail plea has been turned down in this case.
The special judge Dig Vijay Singh rejected the bail plea, stating clearly that
“there was no sufficient ground to grant the relief.”
This was Balyan’s second bail application in the same matter. His first application had already been denied by the court on January 15. On Tuesday, he was produced before the court via video conferencing from jail.
On May 1, the Delhi Police filed a supplementary chargesheet against four accused in the case: Sahil alias Poli, Vijay alias Kalu, Jyoti Prakash alias Baba, and Naresh Balyan. All were charged under the harsh provisions of MCOCA, which is usually applied in cases involving organised crime.
The chargesheet was filed in connection with an organised crime syndicate allegedly being operated by notorious gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu.
Balyan had earlier been granted bail in a separate extortion case, but was arrested in the MCOCA case on December 4 last year.
ALSO READ: AAP MLA Naresh Balyan’s Bail Plea || Delhi High Court Seeks State Response
During the hearing, Delhi Police strongly opposed the bail plea. They argued that the investigation is at a very crucial stage, and if bail is granted, the accused could interfere with or hamper the ongoing probe.
After hearing both sides, Special Judge Dig Vijay Singh ultimately ruled against Balyan and stated there were “no sufficient ground to grant the relief” — maintaining that bail could not be allowed at this stage of the investigation.
Naresh Balyan is an Indian politician associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and serves as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Uttam Nagar constituency in Delhi. He was born in Delhi and completed his education at Haryana Shakti Senior Secondary School.
In December 2024, Balyan was arrested in connection with an extortion case, with the Delhi Police invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) due to allegations of his involvement in organized criminal activities. This arrest followed the release of an audio clip allegedly featuring a conversation between Balyan and gangster Kapil Sangwan, which emerged during the investigation.
The AAP leadership, including party convener Arvind Kejriwal, has come to Balyan’s defense, claiming that he is a victim of extortion attempts and that he had previously informed the authorities about threats made against him. The case is currently under judicial review, with further proceedings yet to take place.
The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), enacted in 1999, is a law aimed at combating organized crime and criminal syndicates in Maharashtra. Over time, its provisions have been applied in other states, including Delhi, with specific approval from the central government.
MCOCA is invoked for cases where organized criminal activities are suspected, requiring substantial evidence of the offender’s association with a criminal syndicate. It has faced criticism for alleged misuse and harsh provisions, raising concerns about human rights and fair trials.
