In an uncommon turn of events, a Delhi court opened its doors in the early hours of Saturday after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made a late-night arrest in a major money laundering case. The judge held the hearing at 3 am from her own residence to ensure that the accused was produced within the legal 24-hour limit. The case involves a massive Rs 222 crore scam linked to the PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) affordable housing project.
Delhi High Court Hosts 3 AM Hearing in ₹222 Crore Money Laundering Case
A Delhi court took an unusual step on Saturday when it held a hearing at 3 am at the residence of Additional Sessions Judge Shefali Barnala Tandon. The court heard the custody request for a builder accused in a Rs 222 crore money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the man shortly before midnight and had to present him before a judge within 24 hours.
Who was the ED Arrested?
The ED arrested Swaraj Singh Yadav, the promoter of Ocean Seven Buildtech Pvt Ltd (OSBPL). The agency claims he ran a scam by selling affordable housing flats under the PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Gurugram at inflated prices. He allegedly cancelled the allotments of genuine buyers and resold the units for far more than the approved rates.
ED officials searched for him from 6.55 am on Thursday. They located him late at night and took him into custody.
What the ED Says About the Scam
According to the ED, PMAY flats originally cost Rs 26.5 lakh. The agency alleges that Yadav cancelled the allotments on the false claim of “non-payment.” He then sold the same flats again for Rs 40-50 lakh, and many deals were done in cash. The original homebuyers did not get their money back.
The ED also said the builder and associated companies have been running similar frauds since 2006. They allegedly cheated homebuyers in Mumbai, Jaipur, Kotputli, and Gurugram. The agency estimates that around Rs 222 crore was diverted through these schemes.
Where the Money Went
The ED told the court that the accused moved the money through connected companies to hide the trail. The agency claimed that the money was used to buy several large properties. These include:
- 500 acres in Ware village, Maharashtra
- 100 acres on the Pune-Alibag Road
- Sai Rupa Resorts in Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh
- Land in Boston, USA
- Financial assets in the UK
During searches, the ED recovered ₹86 lakh from the home of Yadav’s brother-in-law. The relative said the cash belonged to Yadav and was kept there for safety.
ED Alleges He Was Preparing to Escape
The ED told the court that Yadav had been selling several of his assets quickly. This included a flat in Jalvayu Vihar in Gurugram, 40 acres of land in Borgaon, Maharashtra, and 15 acres in Jaipur. The agency said this showed he was trying to “dispose of the proceeds of crime” and may try to flee.
The ED also informed the court that his wife, Sunita Swaraj, moved to the United States in August 2025 and now stays at Harvard University in Boston. His children study at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. The agency said his family’s presence abroad increases the risk of his fleeing.
The 3 am Courtroom
The unusual hearing began at 3.05 am. The lawyer for the accused was still on the way, but the court continued. The arguments lasted until 6.30 am.
ED’s Special Public Prosecutor Simon Benjamin asked for 14 days’ custody. He said the agency needed time to question Yadav and match his statements with evidence. Yadav’s lawyer said that most cases mentioned by ED had been settled, and only one FIR remained active.
Court Orders 14 Days of Custody
Judge Tandon said the arrest showed a “grave apprehension” that Yadav might try to escape. She also noted the foreign residence of his family and the movement of money abroad. She sent him to 14 days of ED custody, until 28 November, and directed that he must appear again in court at 2 pm on that day.
PMAY Project Still Incomplete
ED said that OSBPL launched a PMAY project in Gurugram in 2016 and collected Rs 217 crore from more than 1,000 buyers. The project remains incomplete. The agency claims the scam continued for nearly two decades and affected buyers across several states.
The court will next review the case when Yadav is produced again on 28 November.
