The arrest of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan has sparked a significant political controversy. Balyan, who represents the Uttam Nagar constituency in west Delhi, was taken into custody by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch on Saturday.
The arrest follows the release of an audio clip by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which allegedly captures a conversation between Balyan and gangster Kapil Sangwan.
In the conversation, Balyan is purportedly heard instructing the gangster to threaten and extort ransom from a Delhi builder, along with other individuals.
This development has raised serious questions about Balyan’s involvement in criminal activities and his connections with the underworld.
The audio clip that led to the MLA’s arrest has ignited a political firestorm. According to BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, the content of the conversation revealed that Balyan was not only in contact with a notorious gangster but was also participating in illegal activities, including extortion.
The BJP has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA of collaborating with criminals and using his position to further criminal interests. Bhatia also claimed that Balyan's actions had the approval of AAP's national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, and demanded that the MLA be suspended immediately.
In response to the allegations, the BJP tweeted a portion of the audio clip, in which Balyan allegedly confesses to being blackmailed by the gangster, further fuelling the controversy.
Following his arrest, Balyan was detained by the Crime Branch for questioning at their office in RK Puram, South Delhi. Sources have indicated that Balyan's lack of cooperation during the initial questioning was a factor in his eventual arrest.
The Crime Branch is investigating the case further, and Balyan is expected to be produced before a Delhi court, where the police may seek his remand for further interrogation.
However, the AAP has strongly defended Balyan, claiming that his arrest was politically motivated and illegal. AAP leaders, including MP Sanjay Singh, have alleged that the BJP and the central government are attempting to harass and conspire against party members, especially after Kejriwal began raising concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi.
Singh dismissed the charges against Balyan as baseless and suggested that the arrest was part of a larger conspiracy aimed at tarnishing the reputation of AAP leaders.
The controversy surrounding the arrest has escalated tensions between the BJP and AAP, with both parties accusing each other of using political influence to target their opponents. Balyan, for his part, has denied all allegations and vowed to take legal action against those spreading false claims about him.
He stated that he would file police cases against those responsible for spreading what he described as lies regarding his involvement in the extortion case.
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