The Delhi High Court on Wednesday denied Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Naresh Balyan’s request for custody parole.
Balyan, who was arrested by Delhi Police on December 4, 2024, under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), had sought custody parole to assist his wife, Pooja Balyan, in her campaign for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections from the Vikaspuri constituency.
However, special public prosecutor Amit Prasad, representing Delhi Police, opposed the request, arguing that Balyan could influence witnesses. He also noted that the investigation against him was still ongoing. After considering the arguments, a bench led by Justice Vikas Mahajan dismissed Balyan’s plea.
A day earlier, the High Court had directed Prasad to seek instructions after Balyan’s counsel, MS Khan, referenced a Supreme Court order granting similar relief to Tahir Hussain, who is contesting the Delhi elections from Mustafabad on an AIMIM ticket.
On Wednesday, however, the court distinguished Balyan’s case from Hussain’s, emphasizing that Balyan himself was not a candidate in the elections.
“Mr. Khan, now they (Delhi Police) are opposing it. I will have to pass an order. The Tahir Hussain case is entirely different. Had he (Balyan) been contesting the elections, it would have been a different matter,” Justice Mahajan stated.
