Naresh Balyan Remains In Custody As Delhi HC Rejects MCOCA Bail Petition

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan in a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case allegedly linked to UK-based gangster Kapil Sangwan. The court rejected Balyan’s plea seeking release from custody, with Justice Manoj Jain stating that the application was being dismissed. “I’m dismissing it. End result is that we are dismissing it,” Justice Manoj Jain said while passing the order. A detailed copy of the verdict is awaited. Balyan had approached the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order dated May 27, which had rejected his second bail application in the case.

The former legislator argued for relief from custody, but the High Court declined to grant bail after considering the allegations and proceedings in the matter. The trial court had earlier refused to release Balyan, observing that there were no reasonable grounds at that stage to rule out his alleged involvement in the case. The court had noted that the material presented before it required further examination during the course of the trial. In its 22-page order, the trial court highlighted concerns over alleged links between political figures and organised crime networks.

Special Judge Digvijay Singh observed that a criminal nexus between a politician and a gangster could pose a serious threat to society and required strict action. “The criminal nexus between a politician and a gangster is perhaps the most perilous threat confronting a nation and its citizens and must be addressed with severity,” the court had stated. The case against Balyan has been registered under the stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, which is used to investigate organised criminal activities. Authorities have alleged links between the case and gangster Kapil Sangwan, who is reportedly based in the United Kingdom.

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Balyan, who represented the Uttam Nagar Assembly constituency in Delhi, has denied the allegations against him. His legal team had sought bail, arguing that there was insufficient basis to keep him in custody. However, the courts have so far declined to grant him relief. The MCOCA case is part of a broader investigation into alleged organised crime activities and suspected criminal networks. Under the law, investigators are required to establish links between accused persons and organised criminal groups while presenting evidence before the court. The High Court’s decision means Balyan will continue to remain in custody as the legal proceedings move forward.

The detailed order is expected to provide further reasons behind the court’s decision to reject the bail application. The case has also drawn political attention due to Balyan’s previous association with the AAP and his position as an elected representative. While the prosecution has raised concerns over alleged criminal links, Balyan and his supporters have maintained that the charges are unfounded. With the High Court dismissing the bail plea, the focus now shifts to further developments in the investigation and trial proceedings. The court’s detailed reasoning will be closely examined by both the prosecution and defence as the case progresses.

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