Court takes cognisance of ED’s complaint against son of Haryana MLA, others

Enforcement Directorate files prosecution complaints against Haryana MLA's son and Congress MLA in illegal mining and housing scam.

A special court has taken cognisance of the prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the son of a Haryana MLA and others in connection with a case alleging they were involved in cheating a large number home buyers, the agency said on Tuesday (December 10, 2024).

The agency has submitted the prosecution complaint against Sikandar Singh, son of former MLA Dharam Singh Chokker, Mahira Infatech Private Limited, D S Home Construction Private Limited, and others.

“In this case, Mahira Infatech Pvt. Ltd., Czar Buildwell Pvt. Ltd and Mahira Buildtech Pvt. Ltd. had collected about ₹616.41 crore from thousands of home buyers under the affordable housing scheme, on the promise of providing houses at Sector 68, Sector 103, and at Sector 104 of Gurugram respectively,” the ED said. However, it said, the accused entities failed to deliver the houses, missed multiple deadlines, and diverted the money collected from the home-buyers for their personal gains.

The ED alleged that Mahira Infatech had siphoned off funds on the pretext of construction expenditure in group entities, and with unrelated personal expenses, including the purchase of jewellery, and wedding expenses. “Cash equivalent to the fake purchases was received back from the entities providing fake bills/invoices by the directors/promoters of Mahira Group, which was used for personal gains,” the agency said, adding that the directors/promoters also diverted money to other group entities as loans, which were outstanding for years, for personal gains.

The agency had earlier conducted searches on the premises of the accused persons and entities on July 25, 2023, and attached assets worth ₹36.52 crore, which has been confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. “The other accused persons Dharam Singh Chokker (former MLA, Samalkha, Panipat, Haryana) and his son, Vikas Chokker, are absconding and have not joined the investigation,” the ED said.

In another case, the ED has filed a prosecution complaint against Congress MLA Surender Panwar from Haryana’s Sonepat, and others. Mr. Panwar is the former director and presently a shareholder in Development Strategies India Private Limited. The case relates to alleged illegal mining activities. The court concerned has taken cognisance of the complaint.

The agency arrested Mr. Panwar on July 20. Earlier this year, former MLA Dilbag Singh and his aide Kulwinder Singh were arrested on January 8, it said.