India
Naresh Balyan is AAP's candidate from Uttam Nagar area in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections 2015.
Updated : Feb 03, 2015, 08:57 PM IST
Election Commission officials seized 5,964 bottles of illicit liquor from a godown allegedly owned by AAP's Uttam Nagar candidate Naresh Balyan on Friday night.
"A total of 5964 bottles (4473 litres) of Haryana-made liquor was seized from a godown by flying squad and police in a late night joint-operation," said a senior EC official.
As per initial investigations, the godown belonged to AAP's candidate Balyan, but they are yet to ascertain the ownership of the godown located in Uttam Nagar area, poll officials said.
Acting on a tip off that huge quantity of liquor has been smuggled into Delhi for distribution during Assembly polls electioneering, Delhi Police had registered a case under Excise Act on 31st January and recovered 497 cartons ie 8352 bottles of "for sale in haryana only"liquor from a godown at Om Vihar,Uttam Nagar.
"Balyan has not been named in the FIR registered at Uttam Nagar Police Station and we are investigating if the godown was owned by him or not. Once our investigation is completed, we will then add name in the FIR," the official said.
Naresh Balyan is also a sitting Municipal Councillor from Nawada in South Delhi Municipal Corporation. However, Naresh Balyan has denied any link and said this property (bottles) belongs to BJP worker.
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Meanwhile, BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao has demanded a strict action and said, "They should expel this member(Balyan)."
To check the misuse of money, muscle power and liquor during the Assembly polls here, Election Commission has sought the cooperation of the states bordering Delhi in order to ensure that the exercise passes of peacefully.
While Balyan was directed to join investigation, he has not cooperated so far. After being served a notice, Balyan hsa sought time till elections on 7th February. He may join the investigations by tomorrow.
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