BALYAN REPORTS FOR QUESTIONING, CLAIMS POLITICAL VENDETTA

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) MLA from Uttam Nagar, Naresh Balyan, on Thursday afternoon finally turned up to take part in the investigation over his alleged involvement in distributing liquor before the assembly elections.

Balyan was questioned for approximately an hour at the crime branch in Chanakyapuri. He maintained that he had no links to the seized liquor, sources said.

“He claimed the incident was a political vendetta against him by his rivals,” the official added.

In a major bust on January 31, the crime branch had seized nearly 500 cartons with more than 8,000 bottles of illicit liquor for distribution prior to the assembly elections from a storage facility in Uttam Nagar. Sources had then claimed that the storage facility was allegedly owned by a close relative of Balyan.

Senior police officials hinted that Balyan may soon be summoned again, if needed. “The probe is still on and we are looking at all aspects of the case.”

Balyan had been summoned by Delhi Police immediately after the raid but he was given time till the electoral process got over after a three-member team of the AAP met Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi.

Sources said that while 497 cartons were seized, a shipment of another 1,500 cartons was on its way and was due to arrive in a couple of days at the same place.

SENIOR POLICE OFFICIALS HINTED THAT BALYAN MAY SOON BE SUMMONED AGAIN, IF NEEDED