Is Ex-Cong MLA Dharam Singh Chhokar Arrested in Rs 1,500 Crore Money Laundering Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Dharam Singh Chhokar arrested in a Rs 1,500 crore money laundering case.
- Arrest occurred at a luxury hotel in New Delhi.
- Chhokar faces allegations related to a failed housing project in Gurugram.
- Approximately 2,000 investors were defrauded in this case.
- Political implications could intensify scrutiny of Congress.
New Delhi, May 5 (NationPress) Dharam Singh Chhokar, the former Congress MLA from Haryana, was apprehended by a team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at a prominent five-star hotel in the capital on Monday.
The ex-legislator from Samalkha has been implicated in a significant money laundering scheme valued at Rs 1,500 crore.
Chhokar has been under scrutiny by the ED for an extended period concerning illegal land transactions and deceiving the public through fraudulent practices.
The case reportedly involves a housing initiative in Gurugram, presented as part of the Deendayal Awas Yojana, where funds were solicited from the public but the promised housing units were never delivered. Chhokar and his associates stand accused of misappropriating public money totaling Rs 1,500 crore for personal gain.
As per sources within the ED, the former MLA and his real estate company defrauded approximately 2,000 investors who invested in his housing project.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest, which occurred at a luxurious hotel in the capital, also add to the intrigue, as the ED team confirmed his presence there before proceeding.
It is worth noting that Chhokar's son, Sikandar, was previously arrested in a separate money laundering investigation. Additionally, properties valued at over Rs 44 crore linked to Chhokar were seized by the ED last December.
This development is significant as the two-time legislator from Samalkha is known to have close ties with former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Chhokar's arrest in this Rs 1,500 crore money laundering case is likely to escalate political tensions, with the BJP expected to intensify scrutiny of Congress for allegedly harboring land grabbers and corrupt individuals.
It's also important to mention that Robert Vadra, the husband of Priyanka Gandhi, is currently facing investigations by the ED regarding a land case in Haryana and was recently questioned about his involvement in illicit land transactions during the Congress-led administration.