New Delhi: A city court on Wednesday (January 15) denied bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan in a case lodged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who earlier reserved order on Balyan’s bail plea on January 9 after hearing submissions, dismissed Balyan’s plea seeking bail in the case.
“Application dismissed,” the court held.
Balyan was arrested in MCOCA case on December 4
The Delhi Police arrested Balyan in the case registered under the MCOCA on December 4 while he was in police custody in an alleged extortion case. He was granted bail by the extortion case on December 4.
Prosecution opposed Balyan’s plea
The prosecution had opposed Balyan’s bail plea and had urged the court to dismiss his bail plea, alleging that he was a facilitator in the organised crime syndicate. It had further said that Balyan, along with his absconding associates, were involved in the commission of organised crime, including extortion from businessmen.
The prosecution had further argued that if bail was granted to him in the case, he could influence witnesses, destroy evidence and hamper the ongoing investigation.
Naresh Balyan is facilitator/conspirator in the organised crime syndicate, prosecution claimed
“They (witnesses) have confessed that accused Naresh Balyan is facilitator/conspirator in the organised crime syndicate of Kapil Sangwan and he has provided money to one of member of syndicate after commission of crime for expenses during evading his arrest,” special public prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh had told the court while opposing Balyan’s plea seeking grant of bail, news agency PTI reported.
The prosecution had further argued that the investigation into the case was at a crucial stage and the co-accused persons needed to be traced and arrested and Balyan’s custody was also required to unearth the entire commission of organised crime and to find the trail of pecuniary gain obtained by Balyan and the syndicate members.
