The Delhi political scene is heating up after AAP MLA Naresh Balyan was granted bail in a controversial extortion case. On December 4th, 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court decided to release Balyan on a personal bond of ₹50,000, sparking a fierce political clash between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Balyan’s arrest on November 30th, 2024, followed the circulation of an audio clip that allegedly captured a conversation with a known gangster. While Delhi Police argued that further interrogation was necessary to uncover a potential conspiracy, Balyan’s defense team strongly criticized the arrest as politically motivated and illegal. They pointed out that no written statement was provided at the time of his arrest. The court ultimately rejected the police’s request for 14-day judicial custody, with Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Paras Dalal ruling in favor of the MLA.
The political drama intensified when the Delhi Police sought Balyan’s arrest in a separate case related to organized crime, intending to invoke the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act). However, the court dismissed this plea, citing insufficient grounds.
This legal conflict has become a focal point of a heated political showdown. BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia accused Balyan of being involved in an extortion racket, allegedly run in collaboration with a gangster. Bhatia’s statements painted a damning picture, alleging that AAP MLAs were facilitating extortion activities with the support of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva backed these claims, accusing the AAP of widespread corruption and organized crime.
In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party has strongly denied these accusations. Priyanka Kakkar, an AAP spokesperson, dismissed the case as politically fabricated, arguing that Balyan had previously filed multiple extortion complaints that were ignored. She further alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was behind the arrest, aiming to undermine Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership. This back-and-forth between the political rivals has left the public uncertain about the future of Naresh Balyan and the broader impact on AAP.
As the extortion case unfolds, this ongoing political controversy is set to have significant implications for both the Delhi government and the national political landscape.
