New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested Sikandar Singh, son of Haryana Congress ML Dharam Singh Chokkar, in a money laundering case related to alleged embezzlement of home buyers' funds, official sources said.
He said that Sikandar Singh was detained under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
60-year-old Chokkar, MLA from Samalkha assembly seat in the state's Panipat district, along with his sons Sikandar Singh and Vikas Chokkar are said to be the "owners and promoters" of Mahira Real Estate Group.
The ED had in July last year conducted searches against the MLA, Sai Aina Farms Pvt Ltd (now Mahira Infratech Pvt Ltd), other Mahira Group companies and some others.
The money laundering case stems from an FIR lodged by the Gurugram Police against Sai Aina Farms Pvt Ltd for "fraud and forgery" over its promise to collect around Rs 360 crore from 1,497 home buyers under the affordable housing scheme. Has been doneResidential units in Sector 68, Gurugram, near Delhi, the ED said in a statement.
However, it said Sai Aina Farms Pvt Ltd "failed" to deliver the houses and "missed" several deadlines.
"Home buyers have been protesting/striking against Mahira Group for the last one year demanding delivery of the promised homes as soon as possible," the agency said.
The ED had then alleged that Chhokar, his son and other key employees remained "absent" during the searches.
The investigation found that Sai Aina Farms Pvt Ltd "swindled" home buyers' money by booking fake construction expenses in group entities.The agency alleged that cash equivalent to bogus purchases was received back by the directors and promoters of Mahir Group from entities providing fake bills and invoices, which were used for personal gains.
It said many personal and family expenses were recorded as construction and business expenses in group entities.
Directors and promoters "diverted" homebuyers' money in the form of loans (which have been outstanding for years) to other group entities for personal gain, preliminary investigation reveals that they diverted around Rs 107.5 crore (limit of Rs. fraudulent expenditure to the extent of Rs. 57 crore) "extracted" from Sai Aina Farms Private Limited and loans to the extent of Rs. 50.50 crore to group entities).
It said the funds belonged to home buyers of the Sector 68 housing project.
The agency said its investigation is ongoing in connection with the financial transactions of four other affordable housing projects promoted by the Chokkar Group and freezing orders were issued in respect of the offices and banned accounts of Mahira Group during the search.According to the ED, four luxury cars (whose acquisition price was around Rs 4 crore), jewelery worth Rs 14.5 lakh, Rs 4.5 lakh in cash and "evidence related to misappropriation of house purchase funds" were seized during the July, 2023 raid. .
He said that Sikandar Singh was detained under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
60-year-old Chokkar, MLA from Samalkha assembly seat in the state's Panipat district, along with his sons Sikandar Singh and Vikas Chokkar are said to be the "owners and promoters" of Mahira Real Estate Group.
The ED had in July last year conducted searches against the MLA, Sai Aina Farms Pvt Ltd (now Mahira Infratech Pvt Ltd), other Mahira Group companies and some others.
The money laundering case stems from an FIR lodged by the Gurugram Police against Sai Aina Farms Pvt Ltd for "fraud and forgery" over its promise to collect around Rs 360 crore from 1,497 home buyers under the affordable housing scheme. Has been doneResidential units in Sector 68, Gurugram, near Delhi, the ED said in a statement.
However, it said Sai Aina Farms Pvt Ltd "failed" to deliver the houses and "missed" several deadlines.
"Home buyers have been protesting/striking against Mahira Group for the last one year demanding delivery of the promised homes as soon as possible," the agency said.
The ED had then alleged that Chhokar, his son and other key employees remained "absent" during the searches.
The investigation found that Sai Aina Farms Pvt Ltd "swindled" home buyers' money by booking fake construction expenses in group entities.The agency alleged that cash equivalent to bogus purchases was received back by the directors and promoters of Mahir Group from entities providing fake bills and invoices, which were used for personal gains.
It said many personal and family expenses were recorded as construction and business expenses in group entities.
Directors and promoters "diverted" homebuyers' money in the form of loans (which have been outstanding for years) to other group entities for personal gain, preliminary investigation reveals that they diverted around Rs 107.5 crore (limit of Rs. fraudulent expenditure to the extent of Rs. 57 crore) "extracted" from Sai Aina Farms Private Limited and loans to the extent of Rs. 50.50 crore to group entities).
It said the funds belonged to home buyers of the Sector 68 housing project.
The agency said its investigation is ongoing in connection with the financial transactions of four other affordable housing projects promoted by the Chokkar Group and freezing orders were issued in respect of the offices and banned accounts of Mahira Group during the search.According to the ED, four luxury cars (whose acquisition price was around Rs 4 crore), jewelery worth Rs 14.5 lakh, Rs 4.5 lakh in cash and "evidence related to misappropriation of house purchase funds" were seized during the July, 2023 raid. .
