AAP's Balyan fails to join probe in liquor case

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from West Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, Naresh Balyan, did not appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch for questioning on Monday in connection with the seizure of liquor bottles from the property of his relative.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from West Delhi’s Uttam Nagar, Naresh Balyan, did not appear before the Delhi Police Crime Branch for questioning on Monday in connection with the seizure of liquor bottles from the property of his relative.

The AAP leader had been granted relief from appearance only till Saturday, the day of polling in Delhi.

On Friday, AAP leaders Ashutosh, Ashish Khetan and Sanjay Singh had met Delhi police commissioner BS Bassi seeking to extend Balyan’s questioning till the conclusion of Saturday’s polling. They had assured Bassi that Balyan would appear before investigators on Sunday for questioning into the seizure of over 8,000 illicit liquor bottles that allegedly belonged to him, police said.

“Despite assurance, Balyan did not join the probe on Sunday and then Monday. He has instead sent a letter to crime branch officials, asking them to send him a detailed schedule of his questioning like and when and where he will be questioned,” said a senior police officer, adding the crime branch officials were yet to take a call on his letter.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for AAP had told HT that Balyan appeared before the crime branch officers on Sunday but he was sent back.

“He (Balyan) had gone to meet the police officials on Sunday but he was asked to come back on Monday,” said an AAP leader.

Police officials, however, rejected the claim and said strict action will be taken if Balyan fails to appear on Monday. Police had previously summoned Balyan on three occasions, requesting him to join the investigation.On Thursday, the police had sent a third summon that was pasted outside his west Delhi residence after Balyan had failed to join the investigation.