Bilkul Sateek News
Gurugram, 5 May – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested former Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker at Hotel Shangri‑La in a dramatic “filmy andaaz” operation, accusing him and his company of laundering nearly ₹1,500 crore under the Deen Dayal Awas Yojana and duping around 2,000 investors.
Dharam Singh Chhoker, a two‑time representative of the Samalkha constituency in Haryana, enjoyed a decade in state politics from 2005 to 2015. Known for his grassroots connect, Chhoker twice secured the trust of Samalkha voters on a Congress ticket before his electoral defeat in 2015.
“Filmy Andaaz” Arrest Inside Hotel Shangri‑La
ED officials, clad in plain clothes and backed by a tactical unit, cornered Chhoker in his suite at Hotel Shangri‑La early Monday morning. Sources describe the scene as resembling a film set—flashes from forged identity cards, coordinated entry by multiple teams, and swift handcuffing—all designed to prevent any escape or media frenzy.
According to ED chargesheets, Chhoker and his firm funneled funds meant for affordable housing under the Deen Dayal Awas Yojana into shell companies and offshore entities. Investigators allege the network siphoned off approximately ₹1,500 crore, leaving some 2,000 small investors with substantial losses and no recourse.
An ED spokesperson said, “The accused will be produced before the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act later today. This operation reflects our commitment to dismantle financial crime networks irrespective of political stature.”
Insiders note that Chhoker was a staunch loyalist of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, often described as one of Hooda’s closest confidants. While Congress has yet to issue a formal statement, the arrest is expected to renew scrutiny of financial irregularities linked to key party figures in the state.
The case underscores the ED’s intensified focus on alleged corruption in high‑value government housing schemes and sets the stage for a closely watched legal battle as Chhoker faces both criminal trial and political fallout.
