In a major crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Dharam Singh Chhokar, former Congress legislator from Samalkha, Haryana, in connection with a Rs1,500 crore money laundering and land fraud case. The arrest took place at a leading five-star hotel in Delhi, following a tip-off confirming his location.
Chhokar is accused of orchestrating a massive scam under the guise of a housing project in Gurugram, falsely claiming it was part of the Deendayal Awas Yojana, a government scheme for affordable housing. Investigations revealed he collected funds from nearly 2,000 investors with the promise of homes, but failed to deliver, instead diverting funds for personal enrichment.
The former MLA and his realty firm allegedly siphoned off Rs1,500 crore, making it one of the largest real estate scams in recent memory. Chhokar had been under the ED’s radar for months. His properties worth Rs44 crore were seized earlier in December.
Adding to the political drama, his son Sikandar Chhokar was also arrested earlier in another money laundering case. The arrest is expected to escalate political tensions, especially due to Chhokar’s close association with former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
This development comes amid broader investigations into high-profile land scams in Haryana, including probes involving Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Priyanka Gandhi, who also faces ED scrutiny.
