Ex-Cong MLA arrested from Delhi's five-star hotel
New Delhi: Dharam Singh Chhokar, former Congress legislator from Haryana, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) team from one of the leading five-star hotels in the national capital on Monday.
The former MLA from Haryana's Samalkha has been arrested in a money laundering case worth Rs 1,500 crore.
Chhokar has been under the ED scanner for quite some time over illegal land dealings and duping the common public by fraudulent means.
The case allegedly pertains to a housing project in Gurugram, touted as one under Deendayal Awas Yojana, where he collected funds from the public but didn't deliver the housing units. Chhokar and his associates are accused of siphoning off public funds to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore for personal use.
According to ED sources, the former MLA and his realty firm duped and hoodwinked at least 2,000 investors, who put their money in his housing project.
The arrest of a former legislator in a filmy fashion also raises curiosity. The ED team arrested him from a leading five-star hotel in the national capital, after ascertaining his presence there.
Notably, Chhokar's son Sikandar was also arrested in a money laundering case earlier. Properties worth over Rs 44 crore linked to Chhokar were also seized by the ED team in December last year.
The move assumes significance as the two-time Samalkha legislator is considered close to former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. His arrest in the Rs 1500 money laundering case is set to send political temperatures soaring, with the BJP likely to step up the heat on Congress for 'sheltering' land grabbers and looters.
Notably, Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi's husband, is already facing the ED heat in a Haryana land case and was also recently grilled by the agency for 'making a moolah' with 'illicit' land deals, during the
Congress regime.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
34 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"Politically motivated": BRS slams PC Ghosh Commission for delaying submission of Kaleshwaram project report
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 12 (ANI) Amid chaos over former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's appearance at PC Ghosh Commission in connection with the alleged irregularities in Kaleshwaram project, Bharat Rashtra Samith (BRS) leader KP Vivekanand Goud labelled the Commission as being 'politically motivated' and expressed reservations over the delay in submission of the report on the project. He informed that the PC Ghosh Commission was expected to submit the report on the Kaleshwaram project within 100 days, but it has been extending the deadline. 'Today, in connection with the PC Ghosh Commission inquiry, our leader, KCR, was called. The PC Ghosh Commission was supposed to submit the report on the Kaleshwaram project within 100 days. But it has only been extending the deadline, which clearly shows that this is a politically motivated commission. Out of 239 pillars, only two pairs required repairs. Just to defame KCR, they are dragging out the Commission,' Goud told ANI here. This came as KCR appeared before PC Ghosh Commission in connection with alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project. Heavy police deployment was witnessed at Hyderabad's BRK Bhavan on Wednesday ahead of KCR's appearance. Previously, BRS MLA and former Irrigation minister Harish Rao and BJP MP Etela Rajender, who previously served as Finance Minister in the BRS government, appeared before the commission. Justice PC Ghose Commission on Tuesday issued summons to former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), former Minister Harish Rao, and BJP MP Etela Rajender, who also served as a minister during the BRS regime, in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). The Commission, which has been probing financial and procedural lapses in the multi-crore irrigation project, directed the three political leaders to appear for questioning in the first week of June. On June 8, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Konda Vishweshwar Reddy described the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana as the 'world's biggest engineering blunder' and termed it a 'huge scam' that has severely impacted the state's economy. Speaking to ANI, Reddy said, 'Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana is the world's biggest engineering blunder and it's a huge scam which ruined Telangana economically. It is one of the prime reasons that the richest state of Telangana is in such a horrible economic condition. We have a loan of Rs 8 lakh crore.' 'The present Congress government does not have money to pay salaries and run the government,' he added, blaming the ruling party for the deepening financial crisis. Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy also held that the previous BRS government was responsible for the project's failure, labelling it the 'biggest man-made disaster' since Independence and the 'most expensive engineering failure' caused by any state government in India. He said that Telangana is currently paying Rs 16,000 crore annually in interest and instalments on high-cost loans borrowed during the BRS regime for this 'faulty' project, thereby placing an enormous burden on the state's finances and its farmers. (ANI)
India Gazette
34 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Enemies of Telangana: Revanth Reddy hits out at KCR family amid chaos over Kaleshwaram project
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 12 (ANI): Amid ruckus over the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched a scathing attack against the family of former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, accusing them of being the 'true enemies' of the state. The CM said that he would present detailed facts and documents related to the Kaleshwaram Project within two days. He also ruled out the possibility of anyone from the KCR family being inducted into the Congress. 'As long as I am in power, there will be no entry for KCR's family into Congress,' Reddy said. He further accused Union Minister G Kishan Reddy of obstructing Telangana's development, calling him 'the biggest hurdle to the state's progress.' 'Kishan Reddy is the biggest hurdle to Telangana's progress,' Reddy said. Speaking about BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha's letter to her father, KCR, the Telangana CM labelled it a 'film-style drama' for attention. Earlier, Kavitha took potshots at the leaders of her party. Without naming anyone, she said that when her father, KCR, received notices in relation to the Kaleshwaram probe, no plan of action was set up. 'When KCR is given notices, there is no action plan. Instead of teaching me, tell me what is your action plan. Twitter tweets are not enough. Shouldn't we be on the ground?' Kavitha said, adding, 'During the Delhi liquor policy, when I went to KCR and wanted to resign, he said that they can't face me, and that's why the case has been filed against you.' The BRS MLC further criticised people in her party, labelling them 'converts.' 'Is it okay to say there are converts? Coverts should be controlled, and KCR should be protected,' Kavitha said, adding, 'If BRS is weak, BJP and Congress will become strong.' Meanwhile, KCR on Wednesday appeared before the PC Ghosh Commission in connection with alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project. Heavy police deployment was witnessed at Hyderabad's BRK Bhavan ahead of his appearance. Previously, BRS MLA and former Irrigation Minister Harish Rao and BJP MP Etela Rajender, who previously served as Finance Minister in the BRS government, appeared before the commission. Justice PC Ghose Commission on Tuesday issued summons to former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), former Minister Harish Rao, and BJP MP Etela Rajender, who also served as a minister during the BRS regime, in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP). The Commission, which has been probing financial and procedural lapses in the multi-crore irrigation project, directed the three political leaders to appear for questioning in the first week of June. (ANI)
Indian Express
36 minutes ago
- Indian Express
In Bhopal, a bridge with 90-degree turn draws criticism, minister says will look into it
A railway overbridge near Aishbagh Stadium in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, has run into controversy just as it nears completion – not for delays or cost overruns, but for what some critics say is a fundamental design flaw that could make it unsafe for motorists. Concerns have been raised around the bridge's sharp, almost 90-degree turn, which vehicles must negotiate soon after ascending. With the Congress taking to social media to take a jab at the design, the state PWD Minister Rakesh Singh promised to look into the issue. 'Whenever a bridge is made, a lot of technical considerations are taken into account. So if there are such allegations, we will look into it,' he said, while dismissing the Congress party's concerns as baseless and politically motivated. Constructed at Rs 18 crore, the 648-metre-long, 8.5-metre-wide overbridge is intended to link the congested areas of Mahamai Ka Bagh, Pushpa Nagar, and the railway station zone with New Bhopal. Conceived as a relief project, it promised to eliminate long wait times at railway crossings and spare residents a circuitous detour that many have endured for over a decade. Government estimates suggested that the bridge would benefit around three lakh commuters daily. The bridge, whose construction began in March 2023, has also faced delays. Initially set for completion in 18 months, it is only now approaching readiness after more than 36 months, delayed by factors such as the shifting of electrical lines and coordination issues between the Public Works Department and the Railways. Public Works Department (Bridge Department) Chief Engineer V D Verma told PTI, 'Due to the Metro station, there is limited availability of land at the point. Due to the lack of land, there was no other option. The purpose of the RoB is to connect the two colonies.' Only light vehicles will run on this overbridge, he said, adding that heavy vehicles will not be allowed. — With PTI inputs
