Latest news with #Chhoker
India Today
11-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Misleading submissions: Top court orders ex-Haryana MLA to surrender in fraud case
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered former Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker to surrender immediately to jail authorities following accusations of misleading the court in a high-profile Rs 600-crore money laundering case. The top court came down heavily on Chhoker's legal team for what it described as "misleading submissions" during attempts to extend his interim former MLA from Haryana's Samalkha is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged role in a money laundering case linked to a fraudulent housing project in Supreme Court's decision comes on the heels of finding factually incorrect statements made by Chhoker's senior advocate. These statements were met with strong disapproval from the bench, which not only dismissed the plea but also rebuked the senior counsel in open court. The court highlighted the absence of credible medical documentation to support Chhoker's claim for bail extension, thus questioning the legitimacy of his health condition. "This is a clear attempt to mislead the court and abuse the process of law," the bench previously granted medical bail for a surgical procedure yet to occur, faced scrutiny after being observed moving about freely post-hospital discharge on July 5. His refusal of treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on several occasions and spending substantial time in hospitals during custody raised further doubts about the seriousness of his medical ED had originally arrested Chhoker on May 5 at a bar in Delhi's Shangri-La Hotel, after he successfully evaded arrest for over two is a central figure in a scam that has significantly impacted approximately 3,700 homebuyers, shaking trust within the real estate sector.- Ends
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court asks former Haryana MLA to surrender back to jail in money laundering case
The Supreme Court on Friday (July 11, 2025) asked former Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker to surrender back to jail on July 12 in connection with an alleged ₹1500 crore money laundering case as it refused to entertain his plea against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Chhoker, who was arrested by Enforcement Directorate officials on May 4 from a five-star hotel in New Delhi, claimed he was subjected to physical assault during the arrest. The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted Chhoker interim bail on medical grounds on June 19, permitting him to undergo surgery at a hospital of his choice. However, the court explicitly stated that the bail was a 'one-time measure' and ordered him to surrender before jail authorities by 5 p.m. on July 12. A partial working day bench comprising Justices Rajesh Bindal and R. Mahadevan, which took up the plea of Chhoker, was urged by senior lawyer Ashok Aggarwal and advocate Ashish Pandey that the high court erred by not extending the time to surrender for the old leader who was assaulted during the arrest. They also assailed the high court order, which said that the interim bail on medical grounds was a 'one-time measure'. 'The petitioner, a senior citizen and political adversary of the ruling dispensation in the state of Haryana, has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in complete violation of the mandate of Article 21 of the Constitution, without following due process of law,' Mr. Pandey said. The plea said the high court, while granting the interim bail on medical grounds on June 19, recorded that Chokker received injuries, including a fractured than, during the arrest. 'His case fell within the exception under the first proviso to Section 45(1) of the PMLA (being 'sick or infirm'), there was no justification in limiting the grant of interim bail till July 12 and imposing an arbitrary embargo that it be treated as a 'one-time measure'. Such a condition is ex-facie unreasonable and constitutionally impermissible,' Mr. Aggarwal said. The bench, however, did not agree to the submissions and asked the former MLA to surrender first. Sensing the mood of the bench, the lawyers withdrew the petition. Chhoker, in his plea, said the high court's rigid limitation on bail duration contradicts its own observations regarding the seriousness of his medical condition and the illegality surrounding his arrest. The plea further said that the high court's order effectively denies him an adequate opportunity to challenge the legality of his arrest and subsequent remand. It also assailed the high court's decision on July 3 to defer the hearing of his main writ petition challenging his arrest until after his surrender. Chhoker had initially approached the Supreme Court in May seeking relief, but was advised to move the high court.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
High court grants interim bail to former MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker on medical grounds
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday granted interim bail to former MLA and Congress leader Dharam Singh Chhoker on medical grounds. Chhoker, a former MLA from the Samalkha assembly segment of Panipat district in Haryana, is currently in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case deemed "illegal." Justice Sandeep Moudgil passed the order after hearing the plea filed by the former lawmaker. The copy of the detailed order was not available at the time of filing the current report. 'Dharam Singh Chhoker has been granted interim bail by the HC on medical grounds. He had a serious medical issue with his shoulder after the ED arrested him in a brutal manner outside a hotel. Chhoker has been directed to surrender back on July 1,' the former MLA's counsel, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, confirmed to TOI. The matter is now fixed for July 3 for further hearing. In his plea, the former lawmaker, who was picked up by the ED in a dramatic manner from a Delhi-based hotel on May 4, has been claiming that neither the arresting officer justified the necessity to arrest him nor did the court at the time of remand evaluate the same. Therefore, the non-application of mind to this quintessential sine qua non renders the entire proceedings of arrest and remand vitiated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo He has sought directions to quash and set aside the 'illegal and unconstitutional' arrest via the arrest order dated May 5 and the patently routine and mechanical remand orders dated May 6, 9, 13, and 17 passed by the special court in Gurgaon for being violative of the forms and rules of law, resulting in the infringement of his fundamental rights. Further directions were also sought for the immediate release of the petitioner from custody, as his further incarceration would not only violate the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of the petitioner but also, on account of his grave indisposition and lack of adequate medical treatment, even a single day in custody would be perilous for his life. 'The petitioner brings to the fore a deliberate and calculated attempt on the part of the ED to humiliate, harass, vilify, and subject the petitioner to physical as well as mental torture, primarily on account of him being a known face of the Congress party in the state of Haryana, having been a member of the state assembly until October 2024,' his counsel submitted.
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Enforcement Directorate arrests Ex-MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker under PMLA Act
Gurgaon (Haryana) [India], May 8 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Dharam Singh Chhoker, Ex-MLA of Samalkha, on May 5, under the PMLA Act, 2002, in connection with a case involving M/s Sai Aaina Farms Pvt Ltd. and others. Chhoker, accused of siphoning off hundreds of crores of homebuyers' funds related to multiple projects in Gurugram, was apprehended at Hotel Shangri La, New Delhi, revealed the ED. The Ex-MLA has been evading arrest for more than a year despite 6 Non-Bailable Warrants against him issued by the Hon'ble Special Court, PMLA, Gurugram, which had also proclaimed him, according to the ED statement. The ED has also confirmed the arrest of Dharam Singh Chhoker on X handle, which stated that he had been produced in court on May 5, and further court has also granted a five-day custody to him. According to ED, Dharam Singh Chhoker, along with his sons Sikandar Singh and Vikas Chhoker, siphoned off Rs. 616 Crore of 3,700 innocent homebuyers of various affordable housing projects located in Sectors 68, 103, and 104 of Gurugram. Dharam Singh Chhoker has been the Director in various group companies of Mahira Group. Using the bank accounts of these companies, the accused persons have diverted the funds by inflating construction expenses using bogus invoices, used home buyers' money to purchase luxury cars, and also made expenses for the wedding of their daughter, etc. The ED initiated its probe based on multiple FIRs filed by Gurugram Police under various sections of the IPC, 1860, for cheating and forgery. Previously, in this case, Dharam Singh Chhoker's anticipatory bail application has been rejected by the Ld. Special Court, Gurugram and the Hon'ble High Court of Punjab and Haryana, according to ED. ED also revealed that another accused, Sikander Singh, was also arrested in this case, and properties to the tune of Rs. 80 Crore (approx.) have been provisionally attached by ED. Further, Vikas Choker, son of Dharam Singh, another accused in the matter, is still absconding, said the ED. Further investigation is in progress. (ANI)
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Former MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker held for diverting homebuyers' funds
Chandigarh: An investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has established that Dharam Singh Chhoker , the former MLA, along with his sons Sikandar Singh and Vikas Chhoker, siphoned off Rs 616 crore belonging to 3,700 homebuyers of various affordable housing projects located in Gurugram's Sector 68, 103, and 104. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials sources on Wednesday informed that the ED investigation has confirmed that Chhoker himself was a director in various group companies of the Mahira Group. Using the bank accounts of these companies, the accused persons diverted the funds by inflating construction expenses using bogus invoices. They used homebuyers' money to purchase luxury cars and cover expenses for the wedding of Chhoker's daughter, among other things. The ED, Gurugram Zonal Office, arrested Dharam Singh Chhoker, former MLA of Samalkha in Panipat district during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in the case related to M/s Sai Aaina Farms Pvt Ltd and others for siphoning hundreds of crores of homebuyers' money. Chhoker was apprehended from Hotel Shangri-La in New Delhi. He had been evading arrest for more than a year despite six non-bailable warrants being issued against him by the Special Court, PMLA, Gurugram, which also issued a proclamation against him. He was produced before the court in Gurugram on Tuesday, which sent him into five-day ED custody. Notably, Vikas Chhoker, Dharam Singh's son and another accused in the matter, is still absconding. Investigation is in progress. It may be recalled that the ED initiated investigations on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by the Gurugram Police under various sections of the IPC for cheating and forgery. Earlier, the anticipatory bail application filed by Dharam Singh was rejected by the Special Court, Gurugram, and the Punjab and Haryana high court. Further, another accused, Sikandar Singh, was also arrested in the case, and properties to the tune of Rs 80 crore (approx) have been provisionally attached by the ED.
