New Delhi, 03 August (H.S.): Former Delhi MLA Naresh Balyan has failed to secure relief from the Delhi High Court in a case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Justice Manoj Jain dismissed Balyan's bail plea. The High Court had reserved its verdict on July 27.

In the case, the Rouse Avenue Court had, on May 5, 2025, taken cognisance of the supplementary chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police against Balyan and four other accused. Opposing the bail application before the High Court, the Delhi Police argued that the provisions of MCOCA were fully applicable in Balyan's case.

The Delhi Police submitted that although the FIR was registered in 2019, evidence of a criminal conspiracy emerged in 2024. During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad appeared on behalf of the Delhi Police. Referring to the provisions of MCOCA, he argued that any person who assists or facilitates organised crime in any manner falls within the ambit of the Act.

Amit Prasad further submitted that the chargesheet refers to the involvement of an organised crime syndicate and is not confined to the role of a single individual. He stated that a person who was an eyewitness in the FIR registered in 2019 was murdered in 2024, which, according to the prosecution, indicated the existence of a criminal nexus among the accused.

During the hearing on the bail plea, Balyan's counsel, Vivek Jain, argued that the charge under MCOCA was not maintainable against his client because the Act requires evidence of continuing unlawful activity. He contended that no fresh offence or new criminal activity had been recorded in the FIR to justify invoking the provisions of MCOCA.

Notably, the Delhi Police arrested Naresh Balyan on the night of November 30, 2024, in connection with an extortion case. He was granted bail in that matter on December 4. Subsequently, the Delhi Police arrested the former legislator in the MCOCA case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar