Saturday, March 29, 2025
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Haryana Congress MLA Dharm Singh Chhoker from a luxury hotel in Delhi. He was wanted in a ₹1500 crore real estate and money laundering scam. Officials found him at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel late Sunday night.
A tip-off led the Gurugram ED team to launch a special operation, codenamed “Dhapaa.” Officers reached the hotel while Chhoker was out for a walk. Due to the crowd, he couldn’t escape, and the team arrested him on the spot.
Chhoker had been on the run. He and his sons, Sikander and Vikas, collected ₹616.41 crore from homebuyers through their companies—Sai Aaina Farms (now Mahira Infratech), Caesar Buildwell, and Mahira Buildtech. They promised affordable homes in Gurugram sectors 68, 103, and 104. Despite receiving huge payments, they failed to deliver the houses or return the money.
Investigators found that Chhoker used the funds for personal luxuries. He spent crores on fake construction bills, expensive jewelry, and weddings. The ED had already seized assets worth ₹44.55 crore belonging to him.
In July 2023, ED officers raided Chhoker’s Gurugram residence. They confiscated four high-end vehicles, including two Toyota Fortuners, a Mercedes G-Wagon, and a Mercedes Classic. They also seized ₹14.5 lakh in cash and jewelry worth ₹4.5 lakh. The ED froze all assets related to Mahira Homes projects.
Police also arrested Chhoker’s son Sikander on April 30, 2024, in Haridwar.
Chhoker, a close aide of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, now faces legal action for defrauding homebuyers and laundering money. The case underlines growing concerns about large-scale fraud in India’s real estate sector.
