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Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to grant regular bail to former Haryana MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker, accused of duping thousands of homebuyers and siphoning off hundreds of crores of rupees in an alleged real estate scam.
Dismissing the plea, Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya observed that the allegations against Chhoker were grave, involving diversion of home buyers’ funds meant for affordable housing projects for personal gains and investments through associated companies.
Allegations of Large-Scale Financial Misuse
The court noted that Chhoker was at the centre of multiple companies under the Mahira Group, including M/s Mahira Infratech Pvt. Ltd. (formerly SAFPL), which was developing affordable housing projects.
According to the investigation, funds collected from homebuyers were allegedly:
- Siphoned off into group companies
- Used for personal expenditure
- Invested in properties under different company names controlled by the Chhoker family
The court observed that Chhoker had a direct involvement in several firms, including M/S Mahira Home Pvt. Ltd., the holding company for various projects, and M/S DS Homes Construction Pvt. Ltd., where he had signed the financial statements.
Court Flags Evasion and Flight Risk
A key factor in denying bail was Chhoker’s conduct during the investigation. The court noted that:
- He repeatedly avoided summons, with at least 17 instances recorded
- Non-bailable warrants had to be issued multiple times
- He was eventually arrested in May 2025 after attempting to flee, with assistance from enforcement agencies and Delhi Police
Taking these factors into account, the court agreed with the Enforcement Directorate’s assessment that the accused posed a serious flight risk.
No Relief on Grounds of Long Incarceration
While acknowledging legal principles regarding prolonged custody, the court held that neither condition—undue delay in trial nor violation of fundamental rights due to long incarceration—was satisfied in this case.
“This court is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage,” the bench ruled, dismissing the plea.
Background of the Case
The case concerns alleged irregularities in affordable group housing projects, in which thousands of buyers invested their savings in the expectation of timely possession. However, delays, financial mismanagement, and fund diversion triggered complaints, leading to a multi-agency probe. The ruling underscores the judiciary’s strict stance in cases involving large-scale financial fraud and public money, particularly where vulnerable home buyers are affected.
