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In his attraction, Chhoker instructed the apex courtroom that the predicate offence, which was the premise for the cash laundering case, was quashed by the excessive courtroom and therefore, the case of ED doesn’t survive. (Photo: File)
A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, nonetheless, orally granted safety to Chhoker, who’s an MLA from Samalkha meeting constituency of Panipat district in Haryana, by asking the probe company to transfer an software earlier than the courtroom, if he wants to be arrested
The Supreme Court has requested Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker to seem earlier than the Enforcement Directorate in reference to the cash laundering case registered in opposition to him.
A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, nonetheless, orally granted safety to Chhoker, who’s an MLA from Samalkha meeting constituency of Panipat district in Haryana, by asking the probe company to transfer an software earlier than the courtroom, if he wants to be arrested.
“We are not recording it in order but we are asking you to move an application before he is arrested,” the bench instructed Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, showing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED). During the listening to on Wednesday, the bench requested Raju whether or not the company intends to arrest him.
Raju replied Chhoker is absconding and never cooperating in the investigation and his arrest relies on the fabric earlier than the ED. He mentioned initially summons have been issued to him and when he didn’t seem earlier than the probe company, an arrest warrant was issued however he nonetheless selected to not seem.
“When he did not appear after issuance of non-bailable arrest warrant, the trial court initiated proceedings under section 82 of CrPC to declare him proclaimed offender,” Raju mentioned. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, showing for Chhoker, mentioned it’s election time and a few aid be granted to him.
He undertook that Chhoker will cooperate with the investigation. The bench mentioned in its order, “The petitionerDharam Singh Chhoker will appear before the officers of the Directorate of Enforcement at their office in New Delhi, on April 12, 2024 at 11am. He will also appear on all subsequent dates whenever required by way of notice.” While observing that since 2021, the ED has not arrested Chhoker in the case, the bench requested the company not to arrest him with out giving prior intimation to the courtroom.
It listed the matter for additional listening to on May 6. Chhoker in his plea earlier than the highest courtroom has challenged the February 26 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court by which it has refused to quash the cash laundering case in opposition to him.
In his attraction, Chhoker instructed the apex courtroom that the predicate offence, which was the premise for the cash laundering case, was quashed by the excessive courtroom and therefore, the case of ED doesn’t survive. The petition claimed that when the predicate offence didn’t maintain the sector, there was no query of proceeds of crime.
On July 25 final 12 months, the ED raided a number of premises linked to Chhoker and his household as a part of a cash laundering probe in opposition to them linked to an alleged actual property fraud. Raids have been carried out at their premises in Panipat, Gurugram and Hisar. The case in opposition to Chhoker was registered by the ED in 2021.
