Delhi Police arrests AAP MLA after BJP accuses him of extortion, gangster link

The Delhi Police on Saturday arrested AAP MLA Naresh Balyan in connection with a year-old extortion case and his alleged links with gangster Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu, who is currently based abroad.
AAP MLA Balyan was first detained by the crime branch unit of Delhi Police for questioning and later arrested.
Sources in the Crime Branch unit told India Today TV that Balyan was arrested as he was not cooperating during the initial questioning. The AAP MLA is likely to be presented before a Delhi court tomorrow where the Crime Branch may seek his remand.
This came hours after the BJP released an audio clip in which the AAP legislator from Uttam Nagar was purportedly heard instructing gangster Nandu to threaten and extort ransom from a Delhi builder and other people.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, while addressing a press conference, accused Balyan of indulging in criminal activities with the approval of party chief Arvind Kejriwal. Bhatia also demanded suspension of the MLA.
“Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Balyan in a conversation with a gangster. The gangster asks why the AAP leader has filed a complaint against him. Balyan replies that he was being blackmailed by the gangster and his goons. The gangster responds that he would make some recording of Balyan viral, listening to which the MLA flips and starts singing like a canary,” BJP wrote in a post on X, sharing the purported audio clip.
Bhatia referred to an audio clip that allegedly recorded the MLA, Balyan, discussing threats and intimidation to extort money from a builder. He said the incident reflects the practices of AAP and its leadership.
In the clip, Bhatia claimed, Balyan addressed the gangster as a brother and discussed threats and intimidation against a builder. He alleged that the two talked about escalating threats, demanding ransom, and distributing the money collected.
“This behaviour is unacceptable for any MLA. However, if the MLA belongs to the party led by Arvind Kejriwal, such actions seem possible,” Bhatia said.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva also slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and alleged that in one of the audio clips, Balyan could be heard mentioning the names of people to be extorted. Sachdeva said the names are of those who work closely with the AAP MLA. “The AAP has a major role in making Delhi a den of criminals,” he said.
Kapil Sangwan, also known as Nandu, is a notorious gangster from Delhi. He is believed to be residing in the United Kingdom for the last five years. Originally from Najafgarh, he has been involved in over 20 criminal cases, including extortion and murder.
According to police, Nandu was also the mastermind behind the murder of BJP leader Surender Matiala in Uttam Nagar last year. His name has surfaced in connection with several high-profile crimes in Delhi and Haryana.

Before moving to the UK, Nandu has served time in Delhi’s prison.