Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Uttam Nagar, Naresh Balyan, who announced that he would join the probe into the recovery of liquor bottles, on Sunday sought another day to do so.
After the Delhi Police on Friday served third such notice to him to join the investigation into the seizure made from a godown last week, AAP leaders met Delhi Police Commissioner B.S Bassi and requested him to allow Mr. Balyan to join the probe after the elections on Saturday.
A senior police officer said that the investigation officer of the case, who had a telephonic conversation with Mr. Balyan reminding him of his deadline, was told that Mr. Balyan would be unable to appear before the police before Monday. “He told the investigation officer that he had instructions from top leaders of his party not to present himself for questioning for now, and he has now assured us that he will join the probe tomorrow,” said the officer.
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On whether Mr. Balyan is likely to be arrested on the same day, the officer said that they would take a call on further action only after questioning was over and his responses available.
According to the police, they had evidence to suggest that the consignment of the seized liquor was indeed procured by Mr. Balyan for the purpose of distributing it to voters, something the AAP has been denying. Delhi Police are also facing hurdles to establish the ownership of the godown from where the seizure was purportedly made. While the land records show it as an inherited property once owned by an ancestor common to Mr. Balyan and his cousin, the electric meter on the premise was issued in the name of the wife of his cousin Leela Ram.
Leela Ram is currently absconding, said the officer.
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Police say they have evidence to suggest that the seized liquor was indeed procured by Balyan for distribution to voters