New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Wednesday opposed before a city court the bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan in a case registered under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), alleging that he was a facilitator in the organised crime syndicate.
The police, while opposing Balyan’s plea and submitting that he, along with his absconding associates, were involved in the commission of organised crime, including extortion from businessmen, urged special judge Kaveri Baweja to dismiss his bail plea in the case.
Balyan was arrested in the case by the Delhi Police on December 4
Balyan was arrested in the case by the Delhi Police on December 4 while he was in police custody in an alleged extortion case. He was on the same day granted bail in the alleged extortion case by a city court.
Balyan could influence witnesses, destroy evidence if granted bail, prosecutor argued
The prosecution, while citing 16 First Information Reports lodged against the alleged syndicate members in various parts of Delhi, claimed that it had “created the havoc in the society and has amassed huge illegal wealth” and submitted that if bail was granted to Balyan in the case, he could influence witnesses, destroy evidence and hamper the ongoing investigation.
“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 argued before the court.
Singh further submitted that Balyan was an influential person in the locality and he may repeat the offence and build pressure on the witnesses.
Balyan may repeat offence and build pressure on witnesses, prosecutor said
“He (Balyan) may repeat the offence and build pressure on the witnesses. The potentiality of the accused to influence the witnesses, to destroy the evidences and to hamper the investigation, apprehension of jumping the bail and the provisions of law… the bail application of accused Naresh Balyan may please be dismissed,” Singh argued, news agency PTI reported.
Singh further submitted that the investigation into the case was at a crucial stage and the co-accused persons had to be traced and arrested and the custody of Balyan 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.
The hearing on Balyan’s bail plea will continue on Thursday.
