Court Orders Arrest of Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker Amid Election Controversy

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the arrest of Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker if he fails to surrender within 24 hours. Chhoker is entangled in a money laundering case and is contesting re-election from the Samalkha constituency.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday commanded the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and police to take Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker into custody if he does not surrender within 24 hours. Chhoker is embroiled in a money laundering scandal, filed against him by the ED in 2023.

An ally of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chhoker seeks re-election from the Samalkha constituency. According to Haryana Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan, a petition urging action against Chhoker was submitted to the High Court on Tuesday.

"Chhoker is the current MLA from Samalkha and is vying for re-election. Multiple criminal cases are registered against him. Despite non-bailable warrants and pending ED actions, no measures have been taken while he openly campaigns," Mahajan stated to ANI. Consequently, the court ordered him to surrender or face arrest by police within 24 hours.

The court emphasized the rejection of his bail and the necessity of taking action, directing Chhoker to surrender or be detained by tomorrow. All 90 Assembly constituencies in Haryana are set to vote on October 5 from 7 am to 6 pm.

In 2023, the ED investigated Chhoker and his son Sikandar Singh Chhoker following an FIR by Gurugram police alleging their involvement in real estate fraud. Sikandar Chhoker was arrested by the ED in March 2024 for allegedly siphoning hundreds of crores and defrauding home buyers with fake construction expenses.

(With inputs from agencies.)