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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has accused the directors of the Mahira Group, including Samalakha MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker and his sons Sikander Singh and Vikas Chhoker, of diverting a staggering sum of almost Rs 107 crore. The funds were collected from approximately 1,500 homebuyers who had invested in an affordable housing project located in Sector 68. The ED's findings were disclosed earlier this week, shedding light on a complex financial scheme that left numerous homebuyers in a state of distress.
According to the ED, the accused orchestrated the diversion by siphoning off Rs 57 crore through fabricated expenditures and an additional Rs 50.5 crore through loans to various group-related entities. These manipulative financial manoeuvres were executed through Sai Aaina Farms Pvt Ltd, which has since been renamed Mahira Infratech Pvt Ltd and is under the control of Samalakha legislator Dharam Singh Chhoker.
The ED conducted extensive searches on July 25, spanning 11 different locations linked to the Congress MLA and his associated companies. These searches encompassed areas in Gurgaon, Panipat, and Delhi. The operation aimed to unearth evidence in connection with a money laundering case that was linked to alleged fraudulent activities concerning the homebuyers. The case falls under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Shockingly, during the searches, neither the Mahira Group's directors nor any of their employees were found at the locations. They have so far evaded joining the ongoing investigation. The search operation did, however, yield valuable findings, including the seizure of luxury cars worth roughly Rs 4 crore, jewellery valued at Rs 14.5 lakh, cash amounting to Rs 4.5 lakh, and crucial evidence that directly pertains to the illicit diversion of homebuyers' funds.
The ED's involvement in this case stems from an initial FIR registered by the Gurgaon police against Sai Aaina Farms for allegations of cheating and forgery. The FIR contended that the company managed to accumulate around Rs 360 crore from a total of 1,497 homebuyers, allured by the promise of affordable housing under the scheme.
The ill-fated housing project, initiated by Mahira Infratech Pvt Ltd in 2017, was initially slated for completion the following year. However, the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) invalidated the license of the Sai Aaina project on May 9, citing the submission of forged land documents, agreements, and bank guarantees to secure the license. This cancellation left the invested homebuyers grappling with uncertainty and financial loss.
As investigations into this complex financial web unfold, the authorities are also delving into the financial transactions associated with four additional affordable housing projects launched in Sectors 63, 95, 103, and 104 by the Mahira Group. These projects are currently under scrutiny, with the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority having previously ordered forensic audits for all five affordable housing ventures. The full extent of the financial irregularities and the potential repercussions for the implicated parties remain to be seen as the investigation progresses.
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