aap-mla-naresh-balyan-arrested-in-extortion-case

Delhi Police’s Crime Branch arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan on Saturday in connection with an alleged extortion case from last year.

 

The arrest came after investigations linked Balyan to a recorded conversation with notorious gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu, who is reportedly operating from abroad.

 

The audio clip allegedly captures discussions about extorting ransom money from businessmen. Following his arrest, Balyan was interrogated by the police, and further investigations into the case are ongoing, officials stated.

 

This development has triggered sharp reactions from political rivals. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused the AAP MLA of orchestrating extortion rackets with the support of gangsters. Bhatia claimed that AAP, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, has become a party linked to criminal activities.

 

In a press statement, Bhatia criticised the MLA, accusing him of threatening innocent citizens and running an extortion operation with alleged approval from the AAP leadership.

 

He questioned whether it was appropriate for a legislator, who has taken a constitutional oath, to engage in such activities.

 

The allegations stem from a purported audio recording in which Balyan is heard discussing financial extortion with a gangster. BJP leaders have linked this issue to what they describe as a broader culture of lawlessness within the AAP and claimed that such practices highlight the misuse of power by the ruling party.

 

AAP leaders, however, have responded by shifting the focus to Delhi's law and order situation, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Centre.

 

Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convener, has consistently criticised the central government for its handling of crime in the national capital. 

 

Kejriwal has previously highlighted a rise in gang violence, extortion threats to businessmen, and shootings over the past two years.

 

Kejriwal compared the current law and order situation in Delhi to the era of underworld dominance in Mumbai during the 1990s. He blamed the Union Home Ministry, led by Amit Shah, for failing to curb the increasing crime rate and turning Delhi into what he described as a “gangster capital.”