MCOCA case: Delhi HC seeks police stand on bail plea of AAP MLA Naresh Balyan

The court issued notice to Delhi Police and fixed the matter for detailed hearing on January 23.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the stand of the city police on a bail plea by AAP leader and Uttam Nagar MLA Naresh Balyan in a case lodged under the stringent MCOCA.

"Issue notice. Let status report be filed before the next date of hearing," Justice Vikas Mahajan said.

Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for the lawmaker, urged the court to release him on the grounds that assembly elections were approaching and his wife was contesting.

"Give me interim bail at least. I am not a criminal," he said.

Pahwa also argued that there was "no shred of evidence" against Balyan.

Counsel for police sought time to file status report following which the court listed the matter for hearing on January 23.

On January 15, a trial court had denied bail to Balyan.

Before the trial court, Delhi police had opposed Balyan's bail application, claiming the investigation was at a crucial stage in the case, and if granted bail, the accused could hamper the probe.

Balyan was arrested in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case on December 4, 2024, the day a trial court granted him bail in an alleged extortion case.