In a dramatic late-night high-stakes drama, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Chhokar at the Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Delhi on Sunday. The arrest was connected to a Rs 363 crore money laundering case.
ED officials were tipped off that Chhokar was at Grappa, one of the upmarket bars located on the hotel ground floor. Moving with quick efficiency, ED Joint Director Navaneet Agrawal of the Gurgaon zone rushed to the destination. He chanced upon Chhokar at the bar soon after.
Late-Night Tip-Off Leads ED to Shangri-La Hotel in Delhi
As additional ED officers came and told Chhokar about the seven non-bailable warrants issued against him, he is said to have tried to escape. With the help of his bodyguards, Chhokar sprinted through the hotel lobby towards a waiting car in the portico, setting off a dramatic chase.
VIDEO | CCTV footage of Enforcement Directorate apprehending former Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker.
(Source: Third Party)#DharamSinghChhoker pic.twitter.com/ntg2OTkZi5
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ED officials pursued him inside the premises, and in the commotion, Chhokar allegedly attempted to attack hotel staff and ED officials in an attempt to flee. Agrawal was able to intercept and hold him down. The ED team overpowered the former lawmaker and put him inside their official vehicle.
CCTV footage revealed Dharam Chhokar struggling to be arrested despite being pushed into the car. He attempted to flee once more, and ED officials summoned a local constable to provide backup. Chhokar was then taken to the ED office for further questioning.
On Monday, a Gurgaon court sent him to six days of ED custody. Sikander, the son of Chhokar, had also been arrested previously in relation to the same case. Earlier, in July 2023, the ED had confiscated several properties, vehicles, cash, and jewellery worth a few crores belonging to the accused.
Chhokar was an MLA from the Samalkha constituency twice—once in 2009 on a Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) ticket and again in 2019 as a Congress candidate. He did not manage to hold on to his seat in the 2024 election.
Moreover, the arrest marks a crucial milestone in the agency’s continued investigation into one of Haryana’s biggest financial scams. According to sources in the ED, the operation was carefully conceived to ensure minimal disruption and facilitate swift action.
