AAP MLA Naresh Balyan arrested by Delhi Police for his alleged link to gangster in extortion case

Image Source : @AMITMALVIYA/X Snapshot from clip posted by BJP leader Amit Malviya

AAP MLA Naresh Balyan was arrested by Delhi Police for his alleged link to a gangster in an extortion case on Thursday. First Delhi Police Crime Branch detained him for interrogation and arrested him after the questioning. The detention of the AAP leader comes hours after BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia released an alleged audio clip in which Balyan is reportedly heard speaking with a gangster about extorting money from a businessman.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya posted a thread of posts on X, giving details about the case. He also posted the alleged audio clip. The authenticity of the audio clips is subject to probe by the autorities.

Malviya's post read, "Explosive: AAP MLA Naresh Balyan’s audio call with gangsters, extorting ransom from Delhi builders and businessmen, goes viral. Arvind Kejriwal is running an extortion network in Delhi and then blames the BJP for poor law and order. (1/3)

In his second post, he said, "Explosive: AAP MLA Naresh Balyan’s audio call with gangsters, extorting ransom from Delhi builders and businessmen, goes viral. AAP has reduced Delhi to a cess pool of corruption. (2/3)."

"Explosive: Audio call of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan’s close aide with gangsters, is also now in public domain. (3/3)," his third post read.

AAP MLA involved in extortion with gangster's help: BJP

Earlier in the day, the BJP lashed out at AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal alleging the involvement of an MLA of his party in extortion of money with the help of a gangster. Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Bhatia and the party's Delhi president Virendra Sachdeva played an audio clip of a purported conversation of the AAP MLA with the gangster.

At the BJP press conference, Bhatia charged that the AAP was involved in threatening people and extorting money from them. He asked whether Kejriwal and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi will take action against the MLA and ask him to resign. "If they do not ask for his resignation, it will be deemed that the extortion money is going to the party and its leaders," he charged.

Bhatia said that it was "election time" in Delhi and the AAP government was in "exit mode". People will not only "throw it out of power" but also ensure it's not able to remain in the opposition, he added.

AAP dismisses allegations'

AAP senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh dismissed the allegations by the BJP, claiming that the audio clip was "fake".

"Arvind Kejriwal is raising his voice against the deteriorating law and order and rising crime in Delhi. Instead of stopping these crimes, BJP and Amit Shah are trying to stop Kejriwal. To stop our leader, they are now running a fake audio clip," Singh said.