Former AAP MLA among nine associates of Nandu arrested, MCOCA invoked against gang

AAP leader Naresh Balyan among nine associates of the gang of Kapil Sangwan, alias Nandu, including his brother, have been arrested by the Delhi Police, invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the gang, an official said on Wednesday.

According to the police, the crackdown was prompted by an increase in ransom calls and extortion activities allegedly orchestrated by the Nandu gang in Dwarka, West, and Outer Delhi. They said the gang, headed by proclaimed offender Kapil Sangwan, is allegedly involved in a criminal network responsible for murders, extortion, armed attacks, and firing incidents across Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab.

Advertisement

“We have arrested shooters, facilitators, and conspirators, while extortion funds and illegal weapons have also been recovered. Efforts are underway to identify and attach the gang’s criminal proceeds under MCOCA,” said Surender Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).

The nine arrested members of the gang include alleged sharpshooters and financiers.

Naresh Balyan, who is a former AAP MLA from Uttam Nagar, is among the accused. “He played an active role in facilitating extortion by pointing out local builders to Nandu and later receiving a portion of the settlements,” Kumar said.

Joint CP Kumar added that the accused’s role surfaced in the wake of the confessions by co-accused and a voice recording shared on social media of his conversation with Kapil Sangwan. He is linked to four criminal cases, including extortion.

Sangwan’s brother Jyoti Prakash, also known as Baba, reportedly encouraged Kapil to turn to crime after the demise of their brother-in-law Sunil, alias Doctor, Kumar further mentioned in his statement. He has been the main recruiter of sharpshooters for the gang and is involved in 24 criminal cases, including murder, extortion, and Arms Act offenses from behind the bars.

Other members of the gang include Ritik (Peter), Rohit Sharma (Anna), Sachin Chhikara, Vijay Gahlot, Sahil (Poli), Vikas Gahlot, and Amardeep Lochab, whose roles allegedly ranged from targeted killings, collection of extortion money, arms supply, and hawala management, police said.

“The syndicate that evolved from revenge killings in 2015 grew into a structured network executing contract killings and extortion rackets by 2021–24,” the officer said.

Sangwan, a declared proclaimed offender, is reportedly hiding in the UK, and a Red Corner Notice has been issued for his arrest.

The gang is allegedly linked to several murder cases, extortion demands worth crores, and firing incidents targeting establishments such as builders’ offices, schools, and shops.

In April 2023, the gang allegedly murdered a rival, Surender Solanki, in Uttam Nagar, and in 2024, they were reportedly involved in a triple homicide in Panchkula, Haryana.

The police said the syndicate amassed assets through extortion, land dispute settlements, and coercion, channelling the proceeds to fund shooters and maintain safe houses. Several of these properties are under scrutiny and will be attached under MCOCA provisions.