New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan’s bail plea in a case registered under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

High Court declines bail

A single-judge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain, which had reserved its verdict last week, refused to grant bail to the former Uttam Nagar legislator.

Balyan had challenged the trial court’s order denying him bail in the organised crime case registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch under the MCOCA.

He was rearrested by the Crime Branch in December 2024 under the MCOCA just minutes after securing bail in a separate extortion case. Following the relief granted by the Rouse Avenue Court, police arrested him within the court premises in connection with the organised crime case.

Allegations of links with criminal syndicate

Balyan was first arrested on November 30, 2024, after audio clips allegedly featuring a conversation between him and gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu surfaced. The recordings allegedly suggested plans to threaten and extort money from builders and other individuals in Delhi.

According to the Delhi Police, Balyan was part of a larger organised crime syndicate involved in extortion, arms trafficking and other criminal activities in Delhi and nearby areas.

The police have named Vijay alias Kalu, Sahil alias Poli, Naresh Balyan and Jyoti Prakash alias Baba in a supplementary chargesheet filed in the case.

Earlier discharged in extortion case

During the bail proceedings, Delhi Police argued that the investigation was at a crucial stage and that Balyan’s release could hamper the probe. Balyan, however, has maintained that the allegations are politically motivated and fabricated.

Meanwhile, in a parallel extortion case linked to an FIR registered at Mohan Garden Police Station, the Rouse Avenue Court on July 31 discharged Balyan of charges under Sections 387, 120B and 201 of the IPC.

The trial court observed that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case, noting there was “not a single piece of evidence” showing any prior meeting of minds between Balyan and absconding gangster Kapil Sangwan. It also criticised the police investigation for relying on secondary electronic evidence and failing to seize the original devices containing the alleged audio recordings.

Despite the discharge in the extortion case, the Delhi High Court has now refused to grant Balyan bail in the separate MCOCA case.