Was on the run in Rs 500 crore fraud case; caught during secret operation at Shangri-La bar
CHANDIGARH: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former Congress MLA from Haryana’s Samalkha constituency Dharam Singh Chhoker, in a money laundering case. He was caught at a hotel in New Delhi.
As per the ED officials the 61-year-old politician was wanted in a case where over 1500 homebuyers were cheated of more than Rs 500 crore. The ED said Chhoker, along with his two sons, Vikas and Sikandar, is accused of taking money from people through a company called Sai Aaina Farms and other related firms.
Chhoker was arrested after a tip-off that he was seen at the bar of Shangri-La Hotel in Delhi. A special ED team, under Operation ‘Dhappa’, caught him there. ED sources said he tried to run away but was stopped and taken into custody.
He is expected to be brought before a court in Gurugram on Monday as ED may seek his custody for interrogation.
The ED clsims that earlier, a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) had issued multiple non-bailable warrants against Chhoker and his son Vikas, who is still missing. The court had also asked them to appear by May 19.
However, his Sikandar Chhoker was arrested last year in the same case but is now out on bail.
The two times MLA from Samlakha had contested the last Assembly elections on a Congress ticket from Samalkha in Panipat district but lost to BJP’s Manmohan Badhana.