Congress ex-MLA laundering case: Rs 557 crore assets attached | India News

NEW DELHI: In a money laundering case against former Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker who was arrested last month, enforcement directorate on Friday attached properties worth 557 crore, taking the total attachment in the case over 638 crore. The case involves entities linked to Chhoker and his associates, including Mahira Infratech, formerly Sai Aaina Farms Pvt Ltd. Properties attached include 35 acres of land in Gurgaon, both residential and commercial, spread across multiple sectors. “The allegations involve submission of forged documents, including fake bank guarantees to obtain licenses for external and internal development works. This fraudulent activity was carried out in connection with promised affordable housing projects at Sector 68, 103 and 104 in Gurgaon, where the company collected around 616 crore from 3,700 homebuyers,” the agency said. However, the company failed to deliver houses within promised timelines and allegedly laundered funds.Probe revealed that the accused “siphoned off the funds by inflating construction costs through fake invoices from associated entities”. The money was diverted for personal gains by the company’s directors and promoters, ED said. Funds collected from homebuyers were also transferred to other group entities as loans, which remain outstanding for years. A chargesheet has been filed in the Gurgaon special court and it has taken cognizance of the same.In Feb and March, ED had attached properties worth over 81 crore in the case, including those of Chhoker. Further, “Sikandar Singh, promoter of Mahira Group, was arrested on April 30 last year and Chhoker was taken into custody on May 5 this year after six non-bailable warrants were issued against him for absconding and not appearing before ED,” the agency said.